The Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because
certain gases in the atmosphere (water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and
methane, for example) trap energy from the sun. Without these gases, the earth would
be a frozen planet, with an average temperature of about -18 degrees C.
Greenhouses work by trapping heat from the sun. The glass windows of the greenhouse
let in light but prevent heat from escaping. This causes the greenhouse to heat up, much
like the inside of a car parked in sunlight, and keeps the plants warm enough to live in
the winter.
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere behave much like the glass panels in a greenhouse.
Sunlight enters the Earth's atmosphere and passes through the layer of greenhouse
gases. As the sunlight reaches the Earth's surface, land, water, and biosphere absorb it.
Once absorbed, this energy is sent back into the atmosphere. Some of the energy passes
back into space, but much of it remains trapped in the atmosphere by the greenhouse
gases, causing our world to heat up.
Although the greenhouse effect is very important, the amount of Carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere has increased by about 28% in the last 100 years. Scientists believe that
this increase is due to: the burning of fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal), the chopping of
trees in the tropical forests and the increase of levels of methane and
chlorofluorocarbons in the air. If the greenhouse effect becomes stronger, it could make
the Earth warmer than usual causing Global Warming. Even a little extra warming may
cause problems for humans, plants, and animals.
In 1995, leading scientists predicted the rise in temperatures of 2 degrees C by the year
2005. Warming of this scale will change the climates throughout the world and cause
the sea levels to rise significantly.
International efforts have been undertaken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In 1997
the Kyoto Protocol was set up. This pack obliges 38 countries to reduce emissions of
any 6 greenhouse gases.
Environment
Aerosol: El aerosol
Acid rain: Las lluvias cidas
Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC): El cloroflurocarburos
Destruction of the rain forests: La destruccin de las selvas tropicales
Global warming: El recalentamiento del planeta
Greenhouse effect: El efecto invernadero
Hole in the ozone layer: El agujero de ozono

Hydrocarbons: Los hidrocarburos

Polluting gases: Los gases contaminantes
Spray: El spray
Ultraviolet radiation: Las radiaciones ultravioletas
Environmental damage: El deterioro ambiental
Man's survival: La superviviencia del hombre
Natural surroundings: El entorno natural
Reduction of the quality of life: El empeoramiento de la calidad de la vida
Crude oil: El petrleo
Fuel: El combustible
Oil slick: La mancha de petrleo
Recycling: El reciclaje
Renewable resources: Los recursos renovables
The oil crisis: La crisis de petrleo
To cause irreversible damage: Causar daos irreversibles
To consume: Consumir
To conserve energy: Conservar energa
To decontaminate: Descontaminar
To exhaust: Agotar
To poison: Envenenar
To pollute/contaminate: Contaminar
To recycle: Reciclar
To reduce the damage caused to: Reducir los daos causados a.
To take measures: Tomar medidas