Carolyn W. Murphy
Colorado Technical University
SCI101-1204B-01
Introduction to the Sciences
Phase 3 Greenhouse Effect
Angela Edwards

1 In this research paper I will give you the definition of greenhouse effect, tell you how it works, and the gases that make up the greenhouse effect. I will also try to get you to see how the gases affect the world as a whole. Greenhouse effect occurs when gases in the atmosphere trap infrared energy from the sunlight and then the sunlight is then emitted as heat. Water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2 ), and other trace gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, trap solar heat and slow its loss by re-radiation back to space.

2 A representation of the exchanges of energy between the source (the Sun), the Earth's surface, the Earth's atmosphere, and the ultimate sink outer space. The ability of the atmosphere to capture and recycle energy emitted by the Earth surface is the defining characteristic of the greenhouse effect. (Wikipedia) The main greenhouse gases are: Carbon Dioxide (CO2) which takes up 9-26% of the atmosphere, Methane (CH4) takes up 4-9% of the atmosphere, Nitrous Oxide (N20) takes up 3-7% of the atmosphere, and Chlorofluro Carbons (CFC’s) takes up 36-70% of the atmosphere. The present of atmospheric carbon dioxide is approximately 380 parts per million and rising rapidly due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and cement manufacturers. The atmospheric level of Carbon Dioxide(CO2) the most important greenhouse gas there is to humans have increased 30% from 280 to 360 since 1860 because people and industries are starting to burn more coal, oil, and natural gases that release billions of tons of carbon into the atmosphere every year. Then you have another 1-2 billion tons of carbon being released by the burning and logging of the forest reducing the storage of carbon by trees. If carbon dioxide emissions are not reduced, it’s predicted that over the next several hundred