Greenhouse Effect

This effect is the result of certain atmospheric gases letting sunlight through to the earth's surface, while not letting energy radiated outward from the earth's surface. This results in a net buildup of solar energy in the Earth's atmosphere, because the flow in is greater than the flow outwards.

The chemicals that are most significantly involved in this effect are chloroflurocarbons (CFCs), hydrogenated chloroflurocarbons (HCFCs), nitrous oxide (N2O), and tropospheric ozone (O3). Because the concentrations of CFCs and other gases are increasing, there is a possibility that this effect will be magnified, and the temperature of the earth will subsequently rise. This may cause ecological damage, and could possibly harm human health and the environment.(Eblen and Eblen, 1994, p. 306)

Compiled by

Alex Ogilvie amo2@cec.wustl.edu Last updated 10/26/94.