Global Warming, Acid Rain and Green House Effect

Global Warming

In the atmosphere greenhouse effect is mainly due to the carbon dioxide layer. In the upper atmosphere, there is a protective layer of ozone. This ozone layer does not allow the ultraviolet radiation to enter into the earth’s atmosphere. Lower atmosphere contains carbon dioxide which traps the infrared radiation from different sources and maintains a suitable temperature. If there is an excess of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the temperature of the earth increases which is called global warming.

Acid rain

When the various gases like CO₂, SO₂, NO₂, combine with rainwater then their respective acids will be produced. These acids will react on the ground along with rain water in the cocktail form. This process is called acid rain. In the atmosphere, these gases react with water vapour and formed their corresponding acids like H₂CO3, H₂SO4, and others. When rainfall occurs these acids get mixed with rain and forms acid rain.

Effect of acid rain

1. The acidity of the soil increases which causes the reduction of productivity of the soil.
2. The acidity of water bodies increases which cause the decline in the population of aquatic organism.

Green House Effect

The artificial house which is made by glass or plastic inside which the temperature will be more than the outer environmental temperature is called greenhouse. The artificial greenhouse provides controlled environment for plants.

Examples of Green House Effect

1. The interior of a car parked in the sunshine with its window becomes very hot due to the greenhouse effect.
2. Rooms of a house in cold countries whose windows are closed and sunlight fall on then become warm due to the greenhouse.
3. Solar cookers and solar furnace are heated due to the greenhouse effect.

Advantages of artificial greenhouse

1. It provides the controlled environment for plants inside it. The plants which can be found in the desert can be grown in the Himalayan region inside it.
2. Those plants which are obtained in summer can be planted in winter inside it.

The Atmosphere of the Earth is Natural Green House

The water vapours and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are good observers of infra-red radiation of longer wavelengths than that of the infra-red radiations of shorter wavelengths. The solar radiation passes easily through the atmosphere. The heat radiations passing through the atmosphere are observed by the earth’s surface and various objects like plants, water and rocks. The temperature of the earth increases. The earth’s atmosphere emits infrared radiation of longer wavelengths. These infrared radiations of longer wavelengths are absorbed by water vapours and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Due to this heat radiation, the warming of the earth’s atmosphere takes place.

Reference

Manu Kumar Khatry, Manoj Kumar Thapa etal. .Principle of Physics. Kathmandu: Ayam publication PVT LTD, 2010.

S.K. Gautam, J.M. Pradhan. A text Book of Physics. Kathmandu: Surya Publication, 2003.