| There has been much discussion, both | | | | radiation. This type of radiation is |
| among experts and lay people about the | | | | heat that is radiating away from a warm |
| 'greenhouse effect'. The greenhouse | | | | object. During the day, the Earth is |
| effect is a term that refers to changes | | | | warmed by sunlight, and at night, the |
| in the Earth's atmospheric composition, | | | | Earth cools off by radiating the heat |
| which have been related to the warming | | | | back into space in the form of infrared |
| of our planet. There is a growing amount | | | | radiation. Carbon dioxide, and other |
| of evidence that human activities, | | | | gases to some extent, absorb this |
| particularly those relating to the | | | | radiation and limit its exit into space. |
| burning of fossil fuels like oil and | | | | Therefore, the natural cooling mechanism |
| coal, are major contributors to the | | | | is thwarted. |
| greenhouse effect. The predicted | | | | While it may seem that eliminating the |
| consequences for the planet as a result | | | | greenhouse effect would be the best |
| of the greenhouse effect are extremely | | | | strategy, this is not what we want to |
| serious. They include major changes in | | | | do. Water vapor represents another |
| the climate that will have an impact on | | | | element in the heat-absorbing process. |
| food production and rising sea levels, | | | | There is a great amount of water vapor |
| which will put many coastal and other | | | | in the atmosphere at all times. This is |
| low-lying communities under water. | | | | why we experience rain. We need the |
| Additional information that we have | | | | water vapor in the atmosphere to keep |
| learned about the planet Venus provide a | | | | the Earth at its normal, comfortable |
| frightening example of the greenhouse | | | | temperature. Without the warmth created |
| effect. Venus has a very dense | | | | by water vapor, the planet would freeze, |
| atmosphere made up of gases. The planet | | | | and that would be the end of life as we |
| has what has been described as a | | | | know it. Therefore, we need to have some |
| 'runaway greenhouse effect.' It has | | | | degree of the 'greenhouse effect' in |
| surface temperature of about 800 degrees | | | | order to maintain life on Earth. |
| Fahrenheit. | | | | We need to strike a balance. Mother |
| Experts generally point to gases like | | | | Nature is telling us, again, what we |
| carbon dioxide as the main contributors | | | | should already have learned by now - in |
| to the greenhouse effect. Carbon | | | | any situation, extremes of any kind |
| dioxide, which is a gas that is exhaled | | | | cause harm. |
| by everyone, can absorb infrared | | | | |