A greenhouse gas is a mixture of several transparent atmospheric gases that practically do not allow the thermal radiation of the Earth to pass through. An increase in their concentration leads to global and irreversible climate change. There are several types of major greenhouse gases. The concentration in the atmosphere of each of them in its own way affects the thermal effect.
Main types
There are several types of gaseous substances related to the most significant greenhouse gases:
- water vapor;
- carbon dioxide;
- nitrous oxide;
- methane;
- freons;
- PFCs (perfluorocarbons);
- HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons);
- SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride).
About 30 types of gases have been identified, leading to the greenhouse effect. The effect on matter of the Earth’s thermal processes is exerted depending on the quantity and strength of action on one molecule. By the nature of the occurrence in the atmosphere, greenhouse gases are divided into natural and man-made.
Water vapor
A common greenhouse gas is water vapor. Its amount in the Earth’s atmosphere exceeds the concentration of carbon dioxide. Water vapor has a natural origin: external factors are not able to influence its increase in the environment. Regulates the number of molecules of water vapor temperature of the oceans and air.
An important characteristic of the properties of water vapor is the inverse positive relationship with carbon dioxide. It has been established that the greenhouse effect provoked by the release of carbon dioxide is approximately doubled due to the effects of water vaporization molecules.
Thus, water vapor as a greenhouse gas is a powerful catalyst for anthropogenic climate warming. It is worth considering its effect on greenhouse processes only in conjunction with the properties of a positive bond with carbon dioxide. Water vapor alone does not lead to such global changes.
Carbon dioxide
It occupies a leading position among greenhouse gases of anthropogenic origin. It has been established that about 65% of global warming is associated with increased emissions of carbon dioxide into the Earth’s atmosphere. The main factor in increasing the gas concentration is, of course, the industrial and technical activity of man.
Combustion of fuel takes the first place (86% of the total carbon dioxide emissions) among the sources of carbon dioxide emission into the atmosphere. Other reasons include the burning of biological mass - mainly forests - and industrial emissions.
Carbon greenhouse gas is the most effective driver of global warming. After entering the atmosphere, carbon dioxide makes a long way through all its layers. The time it takes to remove 65% of carbon dioxide from the air shell is called the effective period of stay. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide persist for 50–200 years. It is the high duration of the presence of carbon dioxide in the environment that plays a significant role in the processes of the greenhouse effect.
Methane
It enters the atmosphere in a natural and man-made way. Despite the fact that its concentration is much lower than the amount of carbon dioxide, methane acts as a more significant greenhouse gas. 1 methane molecule is estimated in the mechanism of the greenhouse effect 25 times stronger than the carbon dioxide molecule.
Currently, the atmosphere contains about 20% methane (out of 100% greenhouse gases). Artificial methane enters the air due to industrial emissions. Excessive decomposition of organic substances and excessive burning of forest biomass are considered the natural mechanism of gas formation.
Nitric oxide (I)
Nitrous oxide is considered the third most important greenhouse gas. This substance has a negative effect on the ozone layer. It has been established that about 6% of the greenhouse effect is due to monovalent nitric oxide. The compound acts 250 times stronger than carbon dioxide.
Diazot monoxide appears in the Earth’s atmosphere in a natural way. It has a positive relationship with the ozone layer: the higher the concentration of oxide, the higher the degree of destruction. On the one hand, a decrease in ozone reduces the greenhouse effect processes. At the same time, radioactive radiation is much more dangerous for the planet. The role of ozone in global warming is being studied, and the opinions of experts on this subject are shared.
PFU and HFC
Hydrocarbons with partial substitution of fluorine in the structure of the molecule are greenhouse gases of anthropogenic origin. The influence of such substances on global warming processes in the aggregate is about 6%.
PFCs enter the atmosphere as a result of the production of aluminum, electrical equipment and solvents of various substances. HFCs are compounds in which hydrogen is partially substituted by halogens. They are used in production and in aerosols to replace substances that deplete the ozone layer. They have a high global warming potential, but are safer for the Earth’s atmosphere.
Sulfur hexafluoride
It is used as an insulating substance in the electric power industry. Compounds tend to persist for a long time in the layers of the atmosphere, which leads to a long and extensive absorption of infrared rays. Even a small amount of sulfur hexafluoride will significantly affect the climate in the future.
Greenhouse effect
The process can be observed not only on Earth, but also on neighboring Venus. Her atmosphere at the moment consists entirely of carbon dioxide, which led to an increase in surface temperature to 475 degrees. Experts are sure that the oceans helped to avoid the same fate of the Earth: partially absorbing carbon dioxide, they help to remove it from the surrounding air.
Emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere block the access to thermal rays, which leads to an increase in temperature on Earth. Global warming is fraught with serious consequences in the form of an increase in the area of the World Ocean, an increase in natural disasters and precipitation. The existence of species in coastal zones and islands is becoming threatened.
In 1997, the UN adopted the Kyoto Protocol, which was created in order to control the amount of emissions in the territory of each state. Environmentalists are sure that it will not be possible to completely solve the problem of global warming, but it remains possible to significantly mitigate the ongoing processes.
