Concept of Greenhouses

The global average climate temperature of the earth is about 15c which is favorable for survival of living organisms. The earths atmosphere comprises of naturally occurring greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapor. These gases in turn keep the surface of the earth warm by absorbing a part of the reradiated energy from the earths surface. The atmosphere is transparent to short wave length radiation and opaque to long wavelength radiation. The average temperature of the earth in the absence of the atmosphere will be 5c which is not favorable for the survival of living organisms. Thus atmosphere behaves like a shield to increase the average temperature of the earths surface. The greenhouse technology is based on this globe concept. The greenhouse cover acts as shield which increases the average temperature of the greenhouse and also protects the plants from adverse climatic conditions. It is the technology of creation of micro climate for optimal growth of living plants for maximum crop production throughout the year

SUN

SHORT WAVE RADIATION

EXTRA TERRESTRIAL REGION ATMOSPHERE TERRESTRIAL REGION

COVER
OPAQUE TO LONG WAVELENGTH

LONGWAVE RADIATION (RERADIATED)

GREENHOUSE EARTHS SURFACE

Figure 1: Concept of greenhouses