5-GreenhouseGases.pptVIP

STS 205 Greenhouse gases Greenhouse gases are the gases present in the atmosphere which reduce the loss of heat into space and therefore contribute to global temperatures. Greenhouse gases are essential to maintaining the temperature of the earth; without them the planet would be so cold as to be uninhabitable. Likewise, an excess of greenhouse gases can raise the temperature of the planet to unlivable levels. The term greenhouse gas is applied to, in order of relative abundance: water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and CFCs. Greenhouse gases are produced by many natural and industrial processes. Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a gas at standard temperature and pressure and exists in Earths atmosphere in this state. It is currently at a globally averaged concentration of approximately 383 ppm by volume in the Earths atmosphere, although this varies both by location and time. Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas because it transmits visible light but absorbs strongly in the infrared. Carbon dioxide is produced by all animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms during respiration and is used by plants during photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is generated as a byproduct of the combustion of fossil fuels or vegetable matter, among other chemical processes. And also as a byproduct in lime production. Inorganic carbon dioxide is output by volcanoes and other geothermal processes such as hot springs. Methane Methane is the principal component of natural gas. Methane is a relatively potent greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential. Methane in the atmosphere is eventually oxidized, producing carbon dioxide and water. As a result, methane in the atmosphere has a half life of seven years (every seven years, the amount of methane halves). The abundance of methane in the Earths atmosphere in 1998 was 1745 parts per billion, up from 700 ppb in 1750. In addition, there is a large, but unknown, amount of methane in methane cl