The sun is the Earth’s primary energy source, a burning star so hot that we can feel

its heat from over 150 million kilometers away. Its rays enter our atmosphere and
shower upon on our planet. About one third of this solar energy is reflected back into
the universe by shimmering glaciers, water and other bright surfaces. Two thirds,
however, are absorbed by the Earth, thus warming land, oceans, and atmosphere.

Much of this heat radiates back out into space, but some of it is stored in the
atmosphere. This process is called the greenhouse effect. Without it, the Earth’s
average temperature would be a chilling -18 degrees Celsius, even despite the sun’s
constant energy supply.

In a world like this, life on Earth would probably have never emerged from the sea.
Thanks to the greenhouse effect, however, heat emitted from the Earth is trapped in
the atmosphere, providing us with a comfortable average temperature of 14
degrees.
So, how does it work? Sunrays enter the glass roof and walls of a greenhouse. But
once they heat up the ground, which, in turn, heats up the air inside the greenhouse,
the glass panels trap that warm air and temperatures increase.

Our planet, however, has no glass walls; the only thing that comes close to acting as
such is our atmosphere. But in here, processes are way more complicated than in a
real greenhouse.

Like a radiator in space

Only about half of all solar energy that reaches the Earth is infrared radiation and
causes immediate warming when passing the atmosphere. The other half is of a
higher frequency, and only translates into heat once it hits Earth and is later
reflected back into space as waves of infrared radiation.

This transformation of solar radiation in to infrared radiation is crucial, because

infrared radiation can be absorbed by the atmosphere. So, on a cold and clear night
for example, parts of this infrared radiation that would normally dissipate into space
get caught up in the Earth’s atmosphere. And like a radiator in the middle of a room,
our atmosphere radiates this heat into all directions
Greenhouse gases heat up our planet. Thy are part of Earth's atmosphere and trap
warmth emitted by the sun, thus heating Earth. It is this process – the greenhouse
effect – that makes life on the planet possible.

Natural greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have
always been in the atmosphere. Without them, the world’s average surface
temperature would be a chilly -18 degrees Celsius. Thanks to the greenhouse effect,
however, we enjoy an average temperature of 14 degrees.
Throughout Earth’s history, temperatures have varied greatly, mostly depending on
the concentration of greenhouses gases in the atmosphere. All signs now suggest
that a major temperature change is happening again, but this time humanity is the
cause. Read our gas profiles and learn more about the causes of climate change and
how we can reduce them.

Disadvantages of Global Warming

• Ocean circulation disrupted, disrupting and having unknown effects on world climate.
• Higher sea level leading to flooding of low-lying lands and deaths and disease from
flood and evacuation.
• Deserts get drier leaving to increased desertification.
• Changes to agricultural production that can lead to food shortages.
• Water shortages in already water-scarce areas.
• Starvation, malnutrition, and increased deaths due to food and crop shortages.
• More extreme weather and an increased frequency of severe and catastrophic storms.
• Increased disease in humans and animals.
• Increased deaths from heat waves.
• Extinction of additional species of animals and plants.
• Loss of animal and plant habitats.
• Increased emigration of those from poorer or low-lying countries to wealthier or higher
countries seeking better (or non-deadly) conditions.
• Additional use of energy resources for cooling needs.
• Increased air pollution.
• Increased allergy and asthma rates due to earlier blooming of plants.
• Melt of permafrost leads to destruction of structures, landslides, and avalanches.
• Permanent loss of glaciers and ice sheets.
• Cultural or heritage sites destroyed faster due to increased extremes.
• Increased acidity of rainfall.
• Earlier drying of forests leading to increased forest fires in size and intensity.
• Increased cost of insurance as insurers pay out more claims resulting from
increasingly large disasters.

Advantages of Global Warming

• Arctic, Antarctic, Siberia, and other frozen regions of earth may experience more plant
growth and milder climates.
• The next ice age may be prevented from occurring.
• Northwest Passage through Canada's formerly-icy north opens up to sea
transportation.
• Less need for energy consumption to warm cold places.
• Fewer deaths or injuries due to cold weather.
• Longer growing seasons could mean increased agricultural production in some local
areas.
• Mountains increase in height due to melting glaciers, becoming higher as they rebound
against the missing weight of the ice