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Frankie Sotelo Sotelo

Corina Lerma

RWS 1301

2/26/2020 The Greenhouse Effect

Many people around the world have at least heard of the greenhouse effect or have a

general understanding about it. An easy way to describe the greenhouse effect would be to

compare the entire earth to a greenhouse. Similar to a greenhouse, earth absorbs the heat from

the sun where some heat is reflected back into space, stored in the waters of the oceans, or

trapped in the atmosphere by clouds/gasses. This trapping and retaining of heat is known as the

greenhouse effect. A more scientific and effective definition of the greenhouse effect would be

the “vertical distance between a planet’s surface, where energy from the sun is deposited, and

higher aloft, where its heat loss back to space takes place. The vertical distance itself, however, is

determined by greenhouse gasses,” (Benestad 686). This greenhouse effect is the root of all the

changes that are affecting the environment in a negative way such as the melting of ice caps

around the world and the global increase in temperature.

The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring function that has always helped regulate

earth’s temperature, however, due to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, it has had a severe

impact on the earth. Now, more and more solar energy is being trapped because of the increase

of greenhouse gasses. These greenhouse gasses collect in the atmosphere and pile onto existing

greenhouse gas emissions which will only continue to build up over time, trapping even more

heat within the planet. These gasses naturally filter out of earth’s atmosphere, but it takes a very

long time which is why global warming hasn’t been an issue until now since tons of greenhouse

gasses are being emitted into the atmosphere every day. These greenhouse gasses include water

vapor and chlorofluorocarbons such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide (Lave 462).

Since most people today use vehicles as their main method of transportation as well as many
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other innovations that use CFC’S (chlorofluorocarbons) many greenhouse gasses are being

emitted into the atmosphere daily, making it extremely difficult for default greenhouse gas levels

in the atmosphere to return to normal (Lave 462).

The greenhouse effect causes many functions and environments on earth to change. The

average temperature around the world will rise resulting in changes in weather patterns, melting

of ice caps, and rises in sea levels (Leve 463). As a result of these changes, many animals and

people will be affected by these changes in the environment. The melting of ice will decrease the

population of certain animals such as the polar bear, who need a cold climate and ice caps to

hunt and survive. The melting of ice caps will also result in the rise of sea level which can

eventually lead to people living on coasts to have to relocate. The change in weather patterns will

affect functions and environments that rely and certain weather patterns and temperatures such as

agricultural places and forests as well as any animals and people living in that area.

The greenhouse effect presents a very serious issue in today’s world. With the amount of

emissions given off every day, earth will eventually experience very drastic changes in all

aspects, ranging from climate to general livability on earth. If the issue isn’t addressed soon,

there won’t be a fast solution to resolve the problem in the future (Lave 461). The greenhouse

effect is something that impacts everyone throughout the world, and for that reason, it should

raise concern for change.

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Frankie Sotelo Sotelo

Corina Lerma

RWS 1301

2/26/2020 The Greenhouse Effect

Works Cited:

Benestad, Rasmus. “A Mental Picture of the Greenhouse Effect.” Theoretical & Applied

Climatology, vol. 128, no. 3–4, May 2017, pp. 679–688. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1007/s00704-016-1732-y.

Lave, Lester. “The Greenhouse Effect: What Government Actions Are Needed?” Journal of

Policy Analysis and Management, vol. 7, no. 3, 1988, p. 460. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.2307/3323724.