Predominantly, taking the hypothetical scenario of the earth as a dark object situated far away from the sun into context, it is rational to assume that the temperature in the earth will be as low as -18 °C. Such low temperatures imply that all the water in the hypothetical earth will be frozen. As a result, the hypothesized dark earth will not be able to sustain life. Ideally, the greenhouse effect is essential since it keeps hit closer to the ground to a temperature of about 14 °C. Principally, the earth is able to sustain life because of the warmth derived from the greenhouse effects.
PHET simulations on greenhouse effect definitively demonstrate the importance of the greenhouse effect in promoting sustainability. Notably, the name greenhouse was derived from a greenhouse, which is a structure that allows visible light in while reflecting a portion of it to the atmosphere. However, not all the terrestrial radiation makes it to the atmosphere because a significant percentage is converted to heat after a series of refractions. The heat is kept inside the greenhouse to guarantee optimal conditions for the growth of a specific plant cultivated in the greenhouse.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
A myriad of greenhouse gases are contained in the atmosphere. The greenhouse gases include water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrous oxide, and CFCs. Using a PHET simulation, the impact of the greenhouse gasses on heat retention in the atmosphere can be elucidated. The first aspect of consideration in the simulation is how visible photons and infrared photons interact with greenhouse gases. From the simulation, it is apparent that visible photons are not affected by greenhouse gases. However, when infrared light is shone to the hypothetical atmosphere that contains all greenhouse gases, it was noticed that methane, carbon dioxide, and water vapor were vibrating and refracting the infrared radiations. Holistically, if the atmosphere was composed of gases such as nitrogen and oxygen exclusively, the earth would have been icy and uninhabitable because infrared radiations will be penetrating to the earth surface and wholesomely reflected the upper atmosphere.
Principally, taking an ice age scenario with an unknown composition of water vapor into context is essential in mapping the eminence of the greenhouse effect. Considering the atmosphere has 180ppm of carbon dioxide, 0.380 ppm of methane, and 0.215 ppm of nitrogen oxide, it is evident that when visible photons heat the ice surface, the whole infrared radiations are reflected into space. Conversely, the visible photons that hit the sand are converted into infrared radiations. Some of the infrared radiations are bent back to the atmosphere while the rest is reflected to space. However, the low concertation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere resulted in low retention of heat in the lower atmosphere. In reference to the aforementioned greenhouse gas concentrations, the temperature was 36 °F.
Moreover, using actual greenhouse gases compositions recorded by people in 1750, the temperatures rose to 59 °F. The relative humidity at the time was 70%, carbon dioxide composition was 280 ppm, methane was 0.73 ppm, and nitrogen oxide was 0.270 ppm. The temperatures further increased when today was selected owing to the increase in the concentrations of greenhouse gases. The relative humidity is 70%, the carbon dioxide concertation is 388 ppm, nitrogen oxide 0.317 ppm, and 1.843 ppm. From the results, it is apparent that an increase in the concertation of greenhouse gases promote an increase in heat retained in the lower atmosphere.
In conclusion, the current increase in industrial activity and gaseous emissions from motor vehicles has increased the concertation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As much as the greenhouse effect is vital in promoting sustainability, an excess of greenhouse gases would result in catastrophic environmental occurrences that could threaten the wellness of the human population.
