Sources of greenhouse gases from human activity Greenhouse gas
Sources
Carbon dioxide CO2 Main gas responsible for global warming.
l Burning fossil fuels l Respiration
l Decay and burning of wood l Cement production
Methane CH4
Can trap 21 times more heat than the same amount of carbon dioxide.
However, there is much less methane in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
Nitrous oxide N2 O
Present in the atmosphere in tiny amounts but can trap 270 times
more heat than the same amount of carbon dioxide.
As greenhouse gases build up, more heat is trapped in the atmosphere, causing Earth to warm up. This is called global warming. Average surface temperatures on Earth have increased by approximately 0.8o
the one before. Global warming leads to: A rise in atmospheric temperatures A rise in ocean temperatures
l l
Global warming in turn leads to climate change. Climate change is a change in average global temperatures, precipitation levels and storm patterns.
Climate change impacts life on land by causing: Droughts and heat waves More violent storms More flooding Melting of land ice Changing habitats
l l l l l
Climate change impacts life in the oceans by causing: Warming of the oceans Ocean acidification Melting of polar ice caps Rising sea levels Changing habitats
l l l l l
C in the last century. In the last 30 years each decade has been warmer than
Global warming is the accelerated increase in the temperature of the earth due to rising greenhouse gases in the atmosphere – the greenhouse effect.
Climate change is a change in average global temperatures, precipitation levels and storm patterns.
