Gas emissions, including water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone, are released into the atmosphere naturally or artificially. These gases absorb radiation, increasing Earth’s temperature and causing the greenhouse effect. Human emissions have increased significantly since the Industrial Revolution, mainly from burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and other activities. The “green movement” aims to reduce carbon emissions.
Gas emissions are any gaseous material released, naturally or artificially, into the atmosphere. These gas emissions exist in a variety of forms: most notably water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. Each of these substances, although already present in the atmosphere at certain levels, can be increased by various means, such as the combustion of fossil fuels or the eruption of a volcano. The effects of these gas emissions come in the form of the greenhouse effect. Each of these gases absorbs radiation in the atmosphere, increasing the temperature of the Earth.
Different gases have different effects on the atmosphere and exist in different quantities. For example, methane is one of the strongest absorbers of radiation, while carbon dioxide is not. However, the level of carbon dioxide from gas emissions is much more widespread than methane, so its effect is much stronger overall. This atmospheric warming is necessary to maintain the current condition of the planet. Earth’s surface temperature would be about 59°F (about 33°C) cooler if these gases were not present in the atmosphere.
Water vapor is the most widespread gas emission on the planet and represents the largest percentage of impact on the greenhouse effect. This is generally not caused by humans in abundance. 66% of the atmosphere is composed of water vapour, including clouds, most of which comes from the simple emission of gases caused by evaporation. This percentage, according to the National Safety Council’s Environmental Health Center, accounts for XNUMX percent of the greenhouse effect.
Using ice core samples, the scientists determined that greenhouse gas emissions have changed over time. 500 million years ago, carbon dioxide levels were ten times more prevalent than today. High concentrations of greenhouse gases have continued into the modern era. Humans now live in the Holocene era, which began with the end of the last ice age about 10,000 years ago. During this period, gas emissions from natural sources such as volcanoes have remained relatively stable, accounting for only a 100% fluctuation in the atmosphere.
Since 1750, however, human emissions of gases have increased significantly, due to the onset of the Industrial Revolution. Before that, carbon emissions were around 280 parts per million (ppm). This number has steadily increased since then to reach 387 ppm by the start of the 21st century. These greenhouse gas emissions come mainly from the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, chlorofluorocarbons used in refrigeration and fertilizers. Each of these culprits has been targeted during the late 20th and early 21st centuries by the “green movement,” an effort to reduce carbon emissions.
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