Greenhouse Gases Are a Hot Topic

If you read the newspaper, watch television, or spend any amount of time online, then you are already aware that global warming, greenhouse gases and the gradual change of the earth's climate system is a hot topic. Hollywood, the federal government, and environmental groups all have something to say about it. It can be difficult for those of us who aren't scientists to know who to believe. Politicians on both sides of the argument support whichever stance benefits them economically and movie stars are just looking to be heard. Where can we go to learn the truth about pollution and other greenhouse gases that are causing our planet to get warmer? We need some accurate information if we are going to respond accordingly to this quickly growing problem.

Greenhouse gases are any gases that are very fond of infra-red atmospheric radiation. They absorb this radiation, which causes the Earth to warm. Here is the process: Sun sends waves of radiation (light and heat) to Earth. As it passes through the layer of gases, some are absorbed. It hits the Earth and bounces back, again being absorbed by the gases. The gases sends waves of radiation to Earth.

It's a natural process, nothing to worry about, as long as certain mechanisms are in place to protect the Earth from all the radiation and heat. Carbon sequestration, for instance. that is part of the climate system by which carbon is absorbed by forests, soils and the ocean. Since carbon dioxide and many of the other greenhouse gases have carbon as a component, storing carbon in the Earth is one way that nature has had of regulating the planet's temperature. Now that it has escaped, they are free to make all the greenhouse gases they want.

Carbon has escaped to run rampant in the atmosphere because processes like deforestation have decreased the viability of natural carbon sequestration. Methane, which has been in the news a lot, contains carbon. Other greenhouse gases containing carbon are the halogenated fluorocarbons, perfluorinated carbons and the hydrofluorocarbons. Because of vast changes in the planet's terrain caused by human beings, our climate system is in distress.

When you couple the proliferation of greenhouse gases with our perforated ozone layer, which served as a protection from exposure to the sun's direct rays, the results are shifting climates and thriving sunscreen producers. However, many species developed their strengths and weaknesses because of a stable climate system. When that changes, they are no longer suited to their environment. The Earth can handle a reasonable amount of greenhouse gases, but the production of the amount that we have going now is causing everything to change.

That's what greenhouse gases are doing in a nutshell. Some climates will become hotter while others become colder. The planet will change.