Greenhouse+Gas+Emission

greenhouse gas emission.  **The common greenhouse gases that are found in the earth's atmosphere include: **
 * Carbon dioxide
 * Methane
 * Nitrous oxide
 * Chlorofluorocarbons
 * Surface ozone

 The Greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature that occurs when the greenhouse gases trap energy from the sun in the Earth's atmosphere. Without these gases heat would escape back into space and the Earth's average temperature would be decrease extremely, because of how these gases warm our Earth, the are called greenhouse gases. The effect that these gases is important as without them Earth would be to cold to live on.

media type="youtube" key="2hY49F2LWnM" height="344" width="425"     **Reducing Greenhouse Gases: **  Reducing our greenhouse gas emission is a major and current issue that is being looked at by members of our community including the CSIRO. The CSIRO has been conducting research and developing techniques to reduce emission in industry, agriculture,transportation and energy. Some of these techniques and research include:
 * Here is a video about greenhouse gases and their effects: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, sans-serif;">helping industry, communities and households increase energy efficiency and lower emission
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, sans-serif;">improving transport options
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, sans-serif;">generating power from solar, wind, geothermal and other renewable sources
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, sans-serif;">developing carbon capture and storage technology
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, sans-serif;">exploring the potential of biofuels and carbon sinks (such as forests and soil)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; word-spacing: 1px;">reducing methane production from livestock.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, sans-serif;">The enhanced Greenhouse effect:

Over the past century the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has risen, thickening the blanket of gases that covers the earth. This resulting in the enhanced greenhouse effect. The same amount of heat energy from the sun is coming in to our atmosphere but because of the blanket of gases less heat energy is escaping from our atmosphere. The enhanced Greenhouse effect is leading to the growing problem of global warming or climate change, increasing the average temperature of the Earth.

Where greenhouse gases come from?:

The greenhouse gases include: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, CFCs and surface ozone.

Carbon Dioxide: Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas and is naturally cycled through the environment through photosynthesis and respiration. Over the years the levels of carbon dioxide has increased in our environment. The main contributer of carbon dioxide to our atmosphere is through the burning of fossil fuels. Coal, gas, petrol and oil are all forms of fossil fuels and are non-renewable sources of energy. When we burn these fuels to run industries, make electricity and run our car, carbon dioxide is released into our atmosphere. Deforestation is also another way that increases the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. When land is cleared, not only are greenhouse gases are released through the burning of forests but it also destroys trees that are then not able to store carbon dioxide.

Methane: Methane is produced when vegetation breaks down in the absence of oxygen, for example: in rubbish tips or when cows pass wind or burp. Methane is 21 times more effective than carbon dioxide in stopping heat from escaping the Earth's atmosphere but less methane is produced than carbon dioxide.

Nitrous Oxide: Nitrous Oxide is produced and released into our atmosphere when forests are burnt, through car exhaust, and artificial fertilizers.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): Chlorofluorocarbons were once used in aerosol spray cans, refrigerators and air conditioners, to clean circuit boards and in the manufacturing of polyurethane foam used in packaging. They contributed to greenhouse gas emissions but now are banned in most countries from being used in the before mentioned products and becoming less commonly used worldwide.

Surface Ozone: Surface ozone is produced by the action of the sunlight on cars and other motor vehicles and in industry. Per person in Australia 1.4% of the gas is produced. This making it one of the world's worst greenhouse-polluting countries.

Here is a video about climate change: media type="youtube" key="GAi8Lxf8JXA" height="344" width="425"

- Christine- Ann Tecson, Natalie Rous and Emma Williams -