1

Global warming is due to strengthened

greenhouse effect
2
Greenhouse effect
The Earth has a natural temperature
control system. Certain atmospheric
gases are critical to this system and
are known as greenhouse gases. On
average, about one third of the solar
radiation that hits the earth is
reflected back to space. The Earth's
surface becomes warm and as a
result emits infrared radiation. The
greenhouse gases trap the infrared
radiation, thus warming the
atmosphere. Naturally occurring
greenhouse gases create a natural
greenhouse effect. However, human
activities are causing greenhouse
gas levels in the atmosphere to
increase.
Source: National Geographic
Earths energy budget
3
Source: Nasa, Atmospheric Science Data Center
Strengthening of greenhouse effect
is due to increase of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere
The six greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol:

Carbon dioxide or CO
2
Methane or CH
4

Nitrous oxide or N
2
O
Perfluorocarbons or PFC compounds
Hydrofluorocarbons or HFC compounds
Sulphur hexafluoride or SF
6


Other greenhouse gases:
Ozone or O
3

Bromine compounds or halogens, e.g. CF3Br
Freons or chlorofluorocarbons or CFC:s
Water vapour or H
2
O (g)
Global atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased
markedly as a result of human activities!

4
Source: IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
Different greenhouse gases have different
meaning to global warming
5
Source: IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
Meaning of carbon dioxide to
global warming
Carbon dioxide is the most important anthropogenic
greenhouse gas.
The primary source of the increased atmospheric
concentration of carbon dioxide results from fossil fuel
use in power and heat production as well as transport.
The change of land use provides another significant but
smaller contribution.
The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide
exceeds by far the natural range over the last 650,000
years.
6
Source: IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
Atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases
correlates with temperature
7
According to researches earths mean
temperature has risen in the 20th and the 21st
century
8
Source: IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
9
According to measurements the
temperature is rising
Source: Climatic Research Unit
Sea level is rising
10
Annual averages of the global mean sea level (mm).
The red curve
shows
reconstructed
sea level fields
since 1870.
The black curve
is based
on satellite
altimetry.
The blue curve
shows coastal
tide
gauge
measurements
since 1950.
Source: IPCC Fourth
Assessment Report