The Greenhouse Effect On Earth - 1192 Words

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that works to maintain the warmth radiating onto the Earth’s surface. It was first discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1842, and was later expanded on by John Tyndall in 1858 and Svante Arrhenius in 1896 (Princeton.edu, 2014). When the sun’s energy reaches our atmosphere, greenhouse gasses absorb some of it and some is reflected back into space. Greenhouse gasses include nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, water vapour, ozone and some artificial chemical such as chlorofluorocarbons (Climatechange.gov.au, 2014). The energy that is absorbed by the greenhouse gasses is re-radiated across the Earth, warming the lower levels of the atmosphere and its surface (Bom.gov.au, 2014). The greenhouse effect maintains†¦show more content†¦This excess gas can remain in the atmosphere for around 90 years, which can contribute to the long term warming of the Earth (Australian Conservation Foundation, 2014). The global average air temperature ha s increased, since 1880, by 0.85 degrees Celsius. The warmer climate means that many of the Earth’s polar ice caps are slowly melting. Sea ice normally reflects the heat, whereas water absorbs it. Because there is slowly becoming less and less sea ice, more heat is being absorbed, and this increase in heat in turn melts sea ice, which is then causing sea levels to rise (Australian Conservation Foundation, 2014). Thermal expansion – water expanding due to heat – is also causing sea levels to rise. Sea levels have risen 0.19m since 2000, and are projected to rise another 1m before 2100. On top of this, due to a time lag sea levels will continue to rise even after the excess greenhouse gasses have been exterminated (Climatechange.gov.au, 2014). The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most important and biologically diverse ecosystems in the world (Reef Relief, 2014). It is intricately laced with the mangrove and seagrass ecosystems. The Great Barrier reef is home and feeding ground to thousands of marine species, such as hard and soft corals, sponges, crustaceans, molluscs, fish, turtles, sharks, dolphins and many more (Reef Relief, 2014). Coral reefs take up only 2% of the