BIOLOGY FORM

4
CHAPTER 9.2
THE GREENHOUSE
EFFECT

GREENHOUSE EFFECT
When the sun's
radiation enters the
earth's atmosphere,
some of the radiation
is reflected back to
space by the
atmosphere layer.
The sun's energy that
penetrates the
atmosphere is
absorbed by the
earth.

A part of the energy

is reflected back into
space as infrared
radiation (heat).
Most of the infrared
radiation in the
atmosphere is
absorbed by
greenhouse gases
such as carbon
dioxide, methane,
nitrous oxide, water
vapour as well as
chlorofluorocarbon.

 As a result, the earth's

temperature
increases.
At the same time, the
greenhouse gases also
radiate infrared
radiation towards the
surface of the earth.
The absorption and
reradiation of infrared
radiation by
greenhouse gases that
trap the heat and
warms up the earth's
atmosphere is known
as the greenhouse
affect.

This greenhouse
effect is important
because without it,
the earth would be
too cold to sustain
life.
Over the last 40
years, the earth's
temperature has
increased.

 As a result of human activities such as

combustion of fossil fuels (coal, petroleum
and natural gas) increased deforestation
and industrial production, the concentration
of carbon dioxide has increased.
Hence, the greenhouse effect becomes
more pronounced as the concentation of
greenhouse gases increase, trapping more
heat in the atmosphere. This causes the
earth's temperature to increase. This effect
is called global warming.

Effect of GLOBAL WARMING

1.The polar ice caps and glaciers melt. This

raises the sea level. Flooding occurs
especially at low-lying areas around the sea.
2.Evaporation of water increases.
Quantity of water vapour in the
atmosphere is higher.
Atmospheric heat retention increases as
water vapour is a greenhouse gas.
The greenhouse effect become more
pronounced.

3.Precipitation (rainfall
and snowfall) and
climatic conditions
change.
The higher the rate
of evaporation
causes drought or
greater rainfall.
Storms are stronger
and more
destructive.
The crop yields,
forests and water
supplies are
reduced
This affects marine
life, human health
and biodiversity.

4.Tropical pests and

vectors can spread
to new areas.
More outbreaks of
diseases such as
malaria and
dengue fever can
occur.

THANK YOU
NURUL AHYA AHMAD