Human production activities entail harmful effects on the atmosphere. This factor has already become commonplace and only environmental experts pay attention to it. At the same time, harmful emissions pose increasingly acute issues for organizations involved in global climate change. The list of the most acute problems at conferences on ecology regularly includes greenhouse gas as one of the most dangerous factors affecting the atmosphere and biota. The fact is that gaseous compounds of this type cannot transmit thermal radiation, which contributes to the heating of the atmosphere. There are several sources of the formation of such gases, among which are biological phenomena. And now itβs worth getting acquainted with the composition of greenhouse mixtures.
Water vapor as the main greenhouse gas
Gases of this type form about 60% of the total volume of substances, due to which a greenhouse effect is created . As the Earth's temperature rises, so does evaporation and the total concentration of water vapor in the atmosphere. At the same time, the humidity level remains the same, which contributes to the greenhouse effect. The natural essence possessed by a greenhouse gas in the form of steam undoubtedly has positive aspects in the natural regulation of the atmospheric composition. But there are negative consequences of this process. The fact is that against the background of increasing humidity, an increase in cloud mass occurs, which reflects the direct rays of the sun. As a result, an anti-greenhouse effect takes place, in which the intensity of thermal radiation and, consequently, the heating of the atmosphere decrease.
Carbon dioxide
Among the main sources of emissions of this type are volcanic eruptions, human activities and processes occurring in the biosphere. Anthropogenic sources include the burning of fuel materials and biomass, industrial processes and other factors leading to the formation of carbon dioxide. This is the very greenhouse gas that is actively involved in the processes of biocenosis. It is also the most durable in terms of staying in the atmosphere. According to some reports, the further accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmospheric layers is limited by the risk of consequences not only for equilibrium in the biosphere, but also for the existence of human civilization as a whole. It is these ideas that are the main motivation for developing measures that counteract the greenhouse effect.
Methane
This gas is stored in the atmosphere for about 10 years. It was previously believed that the effect of methane on the stimulation of the greenhouse effect is 25 times higher than carbon dioxide. But recent scientific studies have yielded even more pessimistic results - it turned out that the potential impact of this gas was underestimated. However, the situation is mitigated by a short period during which the atmosphere retains methane. This type of greenhouse gas appears as a result of anthropogenic activity. This may be rice cultivation, digestive fermentation, deforestation, etc. According to some studies, an intensive increase in methane concentration occurred in the first millennium AD. Such phenomena were associated precisely with the expansion of livestock and agricultural production, as well as with forest burning. In the following centuries, the level of methane concentration decreased, although today the opposite trend is observed.
Ozone
The composition of greenhouse gaseous mixtures contains not only components dangerous from the point of view of climate change , but also beneficial parts. These include ozone, which protects the Earth from ultraviolet light. However, here everything is not unique. Scientists divide this gas into two categories - tropospheric and stratospheric. As for the first, it can be dangerous due to its toxicity. At the same time, the increased content of tropospheric elements contributes to the growth of the greenhouse effect. In this case, the stratospheric layer acts as the main protection against the effects of harmful radiation. In regions where this type of greenhouse gas has an increased concentration, strong effects on vegetation are observed, which are manifested in the inhibition of photosynthetic potential.
Countering the greenhouse effect
There are several areas in which work is underway on methods to contain this process. Among the main measures, the use of tools for regulating the interaction of greenhouse gas storage and sinks is highlighted. In particular, environmental agreements at the local level contribute to the active development of forestry. It is also worth noting reforestation measures, which already in the future will minimize the greenhouse effect. Gas released into the atmosphere from production is also reducible in many industries. To this end, measures are introduced to limit emissions from transport, in the production sectors, at power plants, etc. To this end, alternative methods of fuel processing and gas removal systems are being developed. For example, a recovery system has recently been actively introduced, thanks to which enterprises optimize their waste disposal processes.
Conclusion
In the formation of the greenhouse effect, human activity does not play the biggest role. This can be seen by the proportion of gas volumes produced by anthropogenic sources. However, it is these harmful emissions that are the most dangerous for the atmosphere. Therefore, environmental organizations view greenhouse gas as a factor in negative climate change. As a result, tools are used to curb the spread and accumulation of harmful substances that increase the risk of global warming. Moreover, the fight against harmful emissions is conducted in a variety of directions. This applies not only to factories and enterprises, but also products intended for individual use.