It enhances the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse effect of the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases. Possible climate change

St. Petersburg College of Management and Economics

"Alexander Lyceum"

Report on the environmental fundamentals of nature management on the topic:

"Greenhouse effect"

Performed

group student №105

Vorozhbinova Sofia.

St. Petersburg, 2011

GREENHOUSE EFFECT

The greenhouse effect is a rise in temperature on the surface of the planet as a result of thermal energy that appears in the atmosphere due to the heating of gases. The main gases that lead to the greenhouse effect on Earth are water vapor and carbon dioxide.

The phenomenon of the greenhouse effect makes it possible to maintain a temperature on the Earth's surface at which the emergence and development of life is possible. If the greenhouse effect were absent, the average surface temperature of the globe would be much lower than it is now. However, as the concentration of greenhouse gases rises, the atmosphere's impermeability to infrared rays increases, which leads to an increase in the temperature of the Earth.

In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - the most authoritative international body that brings together thousands of scientists from 130 countries of the world - presented its Fourth Assessment Report, which contained generalized conclusions about past and current climate change, their impact on nature and humans , as well as possible measures to counteract such changes.

According to published data, from 1906 to 2005, the average temperature of the Earth rose by 0.74 degrees. In the next 20 years, the temperature increase, according to experts, will average 0.2 degrees per decade, and by the end of the 21st century, the Earth's temperature may increase from 1.8 to 4.6 degrees (such a difference in the data is the result of superimposing a whole range of models future climate, which took into account various scenarios for the development of the world economy and society).

According to scientists, with a 90 percent probability, observed climate changes are associated with human activities - the burning of carbon fossil fuels (i.e. oil, gas, coal, etc.), industrial processes, as well as the deforestation - natural sinks of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere .

climate change impacts:

1. Change in the frequency and intensity of precipitation.

In general, the climate on the planet will become more humid. But the amount of precipitation will not spread evenly across the Earth. In regions that already receive enough rainfall today, their fallout will become more intense. And in regions with insufficient moisture, dry periods will become more frequent.

2. Sea level rise.

During the 20th century, the average sea level rose by 0.1-0.2 m. According to scientists, in the 21st century, the sea level rise will be up to 1 m. In this case, coastal areas and small islands will be the most vulnerable. States such as the Netherlands, Great Britain, as well as the small island states of Oceania and the Caribbean will be the first to fall under the risk of flooding. In addition, high tides will become more frequent, and coastal erosion will increase.

3. Threat to ecosystems and biodiversity.

There are forecasts for the extinction of up to 30-40% of plant and animal species, as their habitat will change faster than they can adapt to these changes.

With an increase in temperature by 1 degree, a change in the species composition of the forest is predicted. Forests are a natural carbon store (80% of all carbon in terrestrial vegetation and about 40% of carbon in soil). The transition from one type of forest to another will be accompanied by the release of a large amount of carbon.

4. Melting glaciers.

The current glaciation of the Earth can be considered one of the most sensitive indicators of ongoing global changes. Satellite data show that since the 1960s there has been a decrease in the area of ​​snow cover by about 10%. Since the 1950s, in the Northern Hemisphere, the sea ice area has decreased by almost 10-15%, and the thickness has decreased by 40%. According to forecasts by experts from the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (St. Petersburg), in 30 years the Arctic Ocean will completely open from under the ice during the warm period of the year.

According to scientists, the thickness of the Himalayan ice is melting at a rate of 10-15 m per year. At the current rate of these processes, two-thirds of the glaciers will disappear by 2060, and by 2100 all glaciers will have completely melted.
The accelerated melting of glaciers poses a number of immediate threats to human development. For densely populated mountainous and foothill areas, avalanches, flooding or, conversely, a decrease in the full flow of rivers, and as a result, a reduction in fresh water reserves, are of particular danger.

5. Agriculture.

The impact of warming on agricultural productivity is ambiguous. In some temperate areas, yields may increase with a small increase in temperature, but decrease with large changes in temperature. In tropical and subtropical regions, overall yields are projected to decrease.

The worst hit could be inflicted on the poorest countries least prepared to adapt to climate change. According to the IPCC, by 2080 the number of people facing the threat of hunger could increase by 600 million, twice the number of people living in poverty today in sub-Saharan Africa.

6. Water consumption and water supply.

One of the consequences of climate change may be the lack of drinking water. In regions with arid climates (Central Asia, the Mediterranean, South Africa, Australia, etc.), the situation will be further aggravated due to a decrease in precipitation.
Due to the melting of glaciers, the flow of the largest waterways in Asia - the Brahmaputra, Ganges, Yellow River, Indus, Mekong, Salween and Yangtze - will significantly decrease. The lack of fresh water will affect not only human health and agricultural development, but will also increase the risk of political divisions and conflicts over access to water resources.

7. Human health.

Climate change, according to scientists, will lead to increased health risks for people, especially for the poorer segments of the population. Thus, a reduction in food production will inevitably lead to malnutrition and hunger. Abnormally high temperatures can exacerbate cardiovascular, respiratory and other diseases.

Rising temperatures may change the geographic distribution of various disease vector species. As temperatures rise, the ranges of heat-loving animals and insects (such as encephalitic mites and malaria mosquitoes) will spread further north, while the people inhabiting these areas will not be immune to new diseases.

According to environmentalists, humanity is unlikely to be able to prevent completely predictable climate change. However, it is in human power to mitigate climate change, to restrain the rate of temperature increase in order to avoid dangerous and irreversible consequences in the future. First of all, due to:

1. Restrictions and reductions in the consumption of fossil carbon fuels (coal, oil, gas);
2. Improving the efficiency of energy consumption;
3. Implementation of energy saving measures;
4. Greater use of non-carbon and renewable energy sources;
5. Development of new environmentally friendly and low-carbon technologies;
6. Through the prevention of forest fires and the restoration of forests, since forests are natural sinks of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The greenhouse effect takes place not only on Earth. A strong greenhouse effect is on the neighboring planet, Venus. The atmosphere of Venus is almost entirely composed of carbon dioxide, and as a result, the surface of the planet is heated to 475 degrees. Climatologists believe that the Earth avoided such a fate due to the presence of oceans on it. The oceans absorb atmospheric carbon and it accumulates in rocks such as limestone, thereby removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. There are no oceans on Venus, and all the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere by volcanoes remains there. As a result, an uncontrollable greenhouse effect is observed on the planet.

Modern civilization has a strong influence on nature. Usually negative. draining swamps and the constant release into the air of a huge amount of harmful substances - this is not a complete list of the "virtues" of mankind. Many believe that the greenhouse effect belongs to the same category. Is it really so?

History reference

By the way, who was the author of the greenhouse effect (that is, the one who discovered this phenomenon)? Who first described this process and spoke about its impact on the environment? A similar idea appeared in the distant 1827. The author of the scientific article was Joseph Fourier. In his work, he described the mechanisms of climate formation on our planet.

The unusualness of this work for that time was that Fourier considered the temperature and climatic features of different zones of the Earth. This is who the author of the greenhouse effect was, who for the first time was able to explain Saussure's experiment.

Saussure experiment

To verify his conclusions, the scientist used the experience of M. de Saussure, which uses a vessel covered with soot from the inside, the neck of which is closed with glass. De Saussure set up an experiment during which he constantly measured the temperature inside and outside the jar. Of course, it constantly increased precisely in the internal volume. Fourier was the first to be able to explain this phenomenon by the combined action of two factors at once: the blocking of heat transfer and the different permeability of the walls of the vessel for light rays with different wavelengths.

Its mechanism is quite simple: when heated, the surface temperature increases, visible light is absorbed, and heat begins to radiate. Since the material perfectly transmits visible light, but practically does not conduct heat, the latter accumulates in the internal volume of the vessel. As you can see, the mechanism of the greenhouse effect can be easily substantiated by every person who studied the standard physics course at school. The phenomenon is quite simple, but how much trouble it brings to our planet!

The emergence of the term

It is worth knowing that Joseph Fourier is the author of the greenhouse effect in terms of its initial description in the literature. But who coined the term itself? Alas, we will never get an answer to this question. In later literature, the phenomenon discovered by Fourier received its modern name. Today, every ecologist knows the term "greenhouse effect".

But Fourier's main discovery was the substantiation of the factual identity of the Earth's atmosphere and ordinary glass. Simply put, the atmosphere of our planet is perfectly permeable to visible light radiation, but it does not transmit it well in the infrared range. Having accumulated heat, the Earth practically does not give it away. That's who the author of the greenhouse effect was. But why does this effect occur?

Yes, we have described the primitive mechanism of its appearance, but modern science has been able to prove that under normal conditions, infrared rays can still quite freely go beyond the planetary atmosphere. How does it happen that the natural mechanisms for regulating the “heating season” fail?

The reasons

In general, we described them in sufficient detail at the very beginning of our article. The following factors contribute to this phenomenon:

• Constant and excessive burning of fossil fuels.
• Every year more and more industrial gases enter the atmosphere of the planet.
• Forests are constantly cut down, their areas are reduced due to fires and degradation of the soil layer.
• Anaerobic fermentation, release of methane from the bottom of the oceans.

You should know that the main "culprits" that trigger the greenhouse effect mechanism are the following five gases:

• Divalent carbon monoxide, aka carbon dioxide. The greenhouse effect is 50% ensured precisely at its expense.
• Carbon compounds of chlorine and fluorine (25%).
• (eight%). Toxic gas, a typical waste product of poorly equipped chemical and metallurgical industries.
• Ground level ozone (7%). Despite its crucial role in protecting the Earth from excessive ultraviolet radiation, it can help retain heat on its surface.
• Approximately 10% methane.

Where do these gases get into the atmosphere? What is their action?

- It is he who enters the atmosphere in large volumes when a person burns fossil fuels. Approximately one third of its excess (above natural) level is due to the fact that man intensively destroys forests. The constantly accelerating process of desertification of fertile lands performs the same function.

All this means less vegetation that can efficiently absorb carbon dioxide, which in many ways stimulates the greenhouse effect. The causes and consequences of this phenomenon are interrelated: every year the volume of divalent carbon monoxide emitted into the atmosphere increases by approximately 0.5%, which stimulates both further accumulation of excess heat and degradation of vegetation cover on the planet's surface.

- Chlorofluorocarbons. As we have already said, these compounds provide a greenhouse effect by 25%. The causes and consequences of this phenomenon have been studied for a long time. In the atmosphere, they appear due to industrial production, especially outdated. Hazardous and toxic refrigerants contain these substances in huge quantities, and measures to prevent their leakage clearly do not give the expected result. The consequences of their appearance are even worse:

• Firstly, they are extremely poisonous for humans and animals, and for the flora, the proximity to fluorine and chlorine compounds is not very useful.
• Secondly, these substances can significantly accelerate the development of the greenhouse effect.
• Thirdly, they destroy which protects our planet from aggressive ultraviolet radiation.

- Methane. One of the most important gases, the increased content of which in the atmosphere implies the term "greenhouse effect". You need to know that in just the last hundred years, its volume in the planet's atmosphere has doubled. In principle, most of it comes from completely natural sources:

• in Asia.
• Animal complexes.
• Domestic wastewater treatment systems in large settlements.
• With rotting and decomposition of organic matter in the depths of swamps, in landfills.

There is evidence that emissions of considerable amounts of methane come from the depths of the oceans. Perhaps this phenomenon is explained by the vital activity of large colonies of bacteria, for which methane is the main by-product of metabolism.

It is necessary to especially emphasize the "contribution" to the development of the greenhouse effect on the part of oil producing enterprises: a considerable amount of this gas is emitted into the atmosphere as a by-product. In addition, the ever-expanding film of oil products on the surface of the World Ocean also contributes to the accelerated decomposition of organic matter, which is accompanied by methane emissions.

- Nitrogen oxide. In large volumes it is formed in the course of many chemical productions. It is dangerous not only by the most active participation in the greenhouse mechanism. The fact is that when combined with atmospheric water, this substance forms a real nitric acid, even if in a weak concentration. It is from here that all that extremely negatively affect people's health originate.

Theoretical Scenarios of Global Climate Perturbations

So what are the global implications of the greenhouse effect? It is difficult to say this for sure, since scientists are still far from an unambiguous conclusion. Currently, there are several scenarios at once. To develop computer models, many different factors are taken into account that can accelerate or slow down the development of the greenhouse effect. Let's look at the catalysts for this process:

• The release of the gases described above due to man-made activities.
• Emission of CO 2 due to thermal decomposition of natural hydrocarbons. It is interesting to know that the crust of our planet contains 50,000 times more carbon dioxide than airspace. Of course, we are talking about chemically bound carbon monoxide.
• Since the main consequences of the greenhouse effect are an increase in the temperature of water and air on the surface of the planet, the evaporation of moisture from the surface of the seas and oceans is increasing. As a consequence, the permeability of the atmosphere for infrared radiation is further degraded.
• The oceans contain about 140 trillion tons of carbon dioxide, which, as the water temperature rises, also begins to be intensively released into the atmosphere, contributing to a more dynamic development of the greenhouse process.
• The drop in the reflectivity of the planet, which leads to an accelerated accumulation of heat by its atmosphere. Desertification also contributes to this.

What factors slow down the development of the greenhouse effect?

It is assumed that the main warm current - the Gulf Stream - is constantly slowing down. In the future, this will cause a significant decrease in temperature, which will slow down the effect of greenhouse gas accumulation. In addition, for every degree of global warming, the area of ​​cloud cover over the entire territory of the planet increases by approximately 0.5%, which contributes to a significant decrease in the amount of heat that the Earth receives from space.

Please note: the essence of the greenhouse effect is to increase the overall temperature of the earth's surface. Of course, there is nothing good in this, but it is the above factors that often contribute to mitigating the consequences of this phenomenon. In principle, this is why many scientists believe that the topic of global warming itself belongs to the category of completely natural phenomena that have occurred regularly throughout the history of the Earth.

The higher the evaporation rate, the greater the annual rainfall becomes. This causes both the restoration of swamps and the accelerated growth of flora, which is responsible for utilizing excess carbon dioxide in the planet's atmosphere. It is also assumed that the increased amount of precipitation in the future will contribute to a significant expansion of the area of ​​shallow tropical seas.

The corals that live in them are the most important utilizers of carbon dioxide. Being chemically bound, he goes to build their skeleton. Finally, if humanity at least slightly reduces the rate of deforestation, then their area will quickly recover, since the same carbon dioxide is an excellent stimulant for the spread of plants. So what are the possible consequences of the greenhouse effect?

The main scenarios for the future of our planet

In the first case, scientists assume that global warming will occur rather slowly. And this point of view has many supporters. They believe that the World Ocean, which is a giant energy accumulator, will be able to absorb excess heat for a long time. It may take more than one millennium before the climate on the planet really changes radically.

The second group of scientists, on the contrary, advocates a relatively quick version of catastrophic changes. This problem of the greenhouse effect is currently very popular, it is discussed at almost every scientific congress. Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence for this theory. It is believed that over the past hundred years, the concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by at least 20-24%, and the amount of methane in the atmosphere has increased by 100%. In the most pessimistic scenario, it is believed that the temperature of the planet by the end of this century may well rise by a record 6.4 ° C.

Thus, in this case, the greenhouse effect in the Earth's atmosphere will simply bring death to all residents of coastal areas.

A sharp increase in the level of the World Ocean

The fact is that such temperature anomalies are fraught with an extremely sharp and practically unpredictable rise in the level of the World Ocean. So, from 1995 to 2005. this figure was 4 cm, although scientists vied with each other that they should not expect a rise above a couple of centimeters. If everything continues at the same pace, then by the end of the 21st century, the level of the World Ocean will be at least 88-100 cm above the current norm. Meanwhile, about 100 million people on our planet live just at around 87-88 cm above sea level.

Reducing the reflectivity of the planet's surface

When we wrote about what the greenhouse effect is, the article repeatedly mentioned that it stimulates a further decrease in the reflectivity of the Earth's surface, which is facilitated by deforestation and desertification.

Many scientists testify that the ice cap at the poles can reduce the overall temperature of the planet by at least two degrees, and the ice that covers the surface of polar waters greatly inhibits the process of carbon dioxide and methane emissions into the atmosphere. In addition, there is no water vapor at all in the region of the polar ice caps, which significantly stimulates the global greenhouse effect.

All this will so affect the world water cycle that the frequency of tornadoes, monstrous in their destructive power of hurricanes and tornadoes will increase several times, which will make it virtually impossible for people to live even in those territories that are very far from the coasts of the oceans. Unfortunately, the redistribution of water will lead to the opposite phenomenon. Today, droughts are a problem for 10% of the globe, and in the future, the number of such regions may well grow to 35-40% at once. This is a sad prospect for humanity.

For our country, the forecast in this case is much more favorable. Climatologists believe that most of the territory of Russia will be quite suitable for normal farming, the climate will become much milder. Of course, most of the coastal areas (and we have a lot of them) will simply be flooded.

The third scenario assumes that a brief period of rising temperatures will be followed by a global cooling. We have already talked about the slowdown of the Gulf Stream, about the consequences. Imagine that this warm current stops completely... Of course, things will not come to the events described in the film "The Day After Tomorrow", but the planet will definitely become much colder. Not for long, however.

Some mathematicians adhere to the theory (simulated, of course), according to which the greenhouse effect on Earth will lead to the fact that for 20-30 years the climate in Europe will become no warmer than in our country. They also suggest that after this, warming will continue, the scenario of which is described in the second option.

Conclusion

Whatever it was, but there is not so much good in the forecasts of scientists. We can only hope that our planet is a more complex and perfect mechanism than we imagine. Perhaps such unfortunate consequences can be avoided.

The greenhouse effect, which has been aggravated for a number of objective reasons, has acquired negative consequences for the ecology on the planet. Learn more about what the greenhouse effect is, what are the causes and ways to solve the environmental problems that have arisen.

Greenhouse effect: causes and consequences

The first mention of the nature of the greenhouse effect appeared in 1827 in an article by physicist Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier. His work was based on the experience of the Swiss Nicolas Theodore de Saussure, who measured the temperature inside a jar with tinted glass when it was exposed to sunlight. The scientist found that the temperature inside is higher due to the fact that thermal energy cannot pass through the cloudy glass.

Using this experience as an example, Fourier described that not all solar energy reaching the Earth's surface is reflected into space. Greenhouse gas traps some of the heat energy in the lower layers of the atmosphere. It consists of:

• carbonic acid;
• methane;
• ozone;
• water vapor.

What is the greenhouse effect? This is an increase in the temperature of the lower atmospheric layers due to the accumulation of thermal energy that greenhouse gases hold. The atmosphere of the Earth (its lower layers) due to gases turns out to be quite dense and does not allow thermal energy to pass into space. As a result, the Earth's surface is warming up.

As of 2005, the average annual temperature of the earth's surface has increased by 0.74 degrees over the past century. In the coming years, it is expected to rise rapidly by 0.2 degrees per decade. This is an irreversible process of global warming. If the dynamics continue, then in 300 years there will be irreparable environmental changes. Therefore, humanity is threatened with extinction.

Scientists name such causes of global warming as:

• large industrial human activity. It leads to an increase in the emission of gases into the atmosphere, which changes its composition and leads to an increase in dust content;

• combustion of fossil fuels (oil, coal, gas) at thermal power plants, in car engines. As a result, carbon dioxide emissions increase. In addition, the intensity of energy consumption is growing - with an increase in the world's population by 2% per year, the need for energy increases by 5%;
• rapid development of agriculture. The result is an increase in methane emissions into the atmosphere (excessive production of organic fertilizers as a result of decay, emissions from biogas plants, an increase in the amount of biological waste from livestock/poultry keeping);
• an increase in the number of landfills, which is why methane emissions are growing;
• deforestation. It slows down the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The consequences of global warming are monstrous for humanity and life on the planet as a whole. So, the greenhouse effect and its consequences cause a chain reaction. See for yourself:

1. The biggest problem is that, due to rising temperatures on the Earth's surface, the polar ice caps are melting, causing sea levels to rise.

2. This will lead to the flooding of fertile lands in the valleys.

3. Flooding of large cities (St. Petersburg, New York) and entire countries (Netherlands) will lead to social problems associated with the need to relocate people. As a result, conflicts and riots are possible.

4. Due to the warming of the atmosphere, the period of snow melting is reduced: they melt faster, and seasonal rains end faster. As a result, the number of dry days increases. According to experts, with an increase in the average annual temperature by one degree, about 200 million hectares of forests will turn into steppes.

5. Due to the decrease in the number of green spaces, the processing of carbon dioxide as a result of photosynthesis will decrease. The greenhouse effect will intensify and global warming will accelerate.

6. Due to the heating of the Earth's surface, the evaporation of water will increase, which will increase the greenhouse effect.

7. Due to the increase in the temperature of water and air, there will be a threat to the life of a number of living beings.

8. Due to the melting of glaciers and the rise in the level of the World Ocean, seasonal boundaries will shift, and climatic anomalies (storms, hurricanes, tsunamis) will become more frequent.

9. An increase in temperature on the Earth's surface will have a negative impact on human health, and in addition, it will provoke the development of epidemiological situations associated with the development of dangerous infectious diseases.

Greenhouse effect: ways to solve the problem

Global environmental problems associated with the greenhouse effect can be prevented. To do this, humanity must coordinately eliminate the causes of global warming.

What should be done first:

1. Reduce the amount of emissions into the atmosphere. This can be achieved if more environmentally friendly equipment and mechanisms are put into operation everywhere, filters and catalysts are installed; introduce "green" technologies and processes.
2. Reduce power consumption. To do this, it will be necessary to switch to the production of less energy-intensive products; increase efficiency at power plants; to involve programs of thermomodernization of habitation, to introduce the technologies increasing energy efficiency.
3. Change the structure of energy sources. To increase the share of the total energy produced from alternative sources (sun, wind, water, ground temperature). Reduce the use of fossil energy sources.
4. Develop environmentally friendly and low-carbon technologies in agriculture and industry.
5. Increase the use of recycled raw materials.
6. Restore forests, effectively fight forest fires, increase green spaces.

Ways to solve the problems that have arisen due to the greenhouse effect are known to everyone. Humanity needs to realize what its inconsistent actions lead to, assess the scale of the impending catastrophe and take part in saving the planet!

The main contribution to the "greenhouse" effect of the earth's atmosphere is made by water vapor or air humidity in the troposphere (Table 3).

At the same time, the concentration of water vapor in the troposphere significantly depends on the surface temperature: an increase in the total concentration of "greenhouse gases" in the atmosphere should lead to an increase in humidity and the "greenhouse" effect, which in turn will lead to an increase in surface temperature.

With a decrease in surface temperature, the concentration of water vapor decreases, which leads to a decrease in the "greenhouse" effect, and at the same time, with a decrease in temperature in the polar regions, a snow-ice cover is formed, leading to an increase in albedo and, together with a decrease in the "greenhouse" effect, causing a decrease in the average surface temperature.

Thus, the climate on the Earth can pass into the stages of warming and cooling, depending on the change in the albedo of the Earth-atmosphere system and the "greenhouse" effect.

Anthropogenic pollution of the Earth's atmosphere is one of the causes of the "greenhouse" effect, which is understood as a possible increase in the global temperature of the globe as a result of changes in the heat balance caused by the so-called "greenhouse gases".

The earth's surface receives mainly a stream of visible rays that pass through the "greenhouse gases" without changing. In near-Earth space, when meeting with various bodies, a significant part of these rays is transformed into long-wave (infrared) thermal rays. "Greenhouse gases" prevent the escape of heat rays into outer space and thereby cause an increase in air temperature (the "greenhouse" effect).

The main "greenhouse gas" is carbon dioxide (CO 2). Its contribution to the "greenhouse" effect, according to various sources, ranges from 50 to 65%. Other "greenhouse gases" include methane (about 20%), nitrogen oxides (about 5%), ozone, freons (chlorofluorocarbons) and other gases (about 10-25% of the "greenhouse" effect). In total, about 30 "greenhouse gases" are known. Their warming effect depends not only on the amount in the atmosphere, but also on the relative activity of the action per molecule. If, according to this indicator, CO 2 is taken as a unit, then for methane it will be equal to 25, for nitrogen oxides - 165, and for freon - 11000.

The main anthropogenic source of CO 2 entering the atmosphere is the combustion of carbonaceous fuel (coal, oil, fuel oil, methane, etc.). Now, only about 1 ton of carbon per person per year enters the atmosphere from thermal power engineering alone; According to forecasts, in the first half of the 21st century, the release will reach more than 10 billion tons.

Over the past 200 years, the concentration of CO 2 in the air has increased from 275 to 350 particles per 1 million air particles, that is, by 25%, and since 1958. by 2001, the concentration of CO 2 increased from 350 to 368 particles (Table 4). If mankind does not take measures to reduce the emission of gases, then by the middle of the century the average global temperature of the surface atmosphere will increase by 1.5-4.5 0 C. The shares of some states in the emission of carbon dioxide are as follows: the USA - 22%, Russia and China - 11% each, Germany and Japan - 5% each.

At present, the danger lies in the fact that the concentration of "greenhouse gases" in the atmosphere, namely carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water vapor and many others, has increased significantly and is associated with the industrial development of mankind. Over the past 150 years, nitrogen content has increased by 18%, methane by almost 150%, and carbon dioxide by more than 30%. As a result, there was a certain stimulation of the "greenhouse" effect with the corresponding consequences.

According to scientists, 330 billion tons of this substance annually take part in the carbon cycle on the planet. The share of man in this volume is very small - 7.5 billion tons, but this is enough to upset the balance of the system.

Recognizing the problem of global warming, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) established in 1988 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This is actually a permanent forum of several thousand scientists from different countries, including dozens of Russian ones, practically everyone who deals with this problem from different angles: climatologists, ecologists, economists and power engineers. Approximately once every 4-5 years, scientists publish their multi-page reports on the state of the Earth's climate. The "first report" of experts in 1990 contained rather modest statements about ongoing climate fluctuations, scientists were sure of one thing for sure - there was an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The average level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere according to the WMO over the past 30 years has increased from 340 to 390 parts per million. Researchers' confidence has increased every year. Back in 2006, 70% of experts were sure that humans are to blame for global climate change, but already from the fourth IPCC report in 2007 it became clear that the number of experts who are confident in this has increased to 90-95%.

The problem of reducing emissions of "greenhouse gases" is engaged in almost the entire world community, both at the political and industrial and environmental levels. An example of a competent policy to reduce emissions of "greenhouse gases" is the Kyoto Protocol of 1997. In December 1997, an international conference on global climate change on the planet was held in Kyoto, which was attended by representatives from 159 countries. The final protocol was adopted, which provided for a total reduction of 5.2% in emissions of "greenhouse gases" into the atmosphere. By 2008-2012 the countries of the European Union should reduce emissions of "greenhouse gases" (from the level of 1990) by 8%, the USA - by 7%, Japan, Canada - by 6%. Russia and Ukraine by 2012 may keep emissions at the level of 1990 due to the decrease in industrial production in recent years. An example of the industrial reduction of CO 2 emissions is the work carried out in Japan in 2007-2008. to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as a result of the dissolution of flue gases after gas-using installations in sea water. However, this technical solution did not give the expected results, and work in this direction was stopped.

The greenhouse effect is the delay by the Earth's atmosphere of the planet's thermal radiation. The greenhouse effect was observed by any of us: in greenhouses or greenhouses the temperature is always higher than outside. The same is observed on the scale of the Earth: solar energy, passing through the atmosphere, heats the surface of the Earth, but the thermal energy emitted by the Earth cannot escape back into space, since the Earth's atmosphere delays it, acting like polyethylene in a greenhouse: it transmits short light waves from the Sun to the Earth and delays long thermal (or infrared) waves emitted by the Earth's surface. There is a greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect occurs due to the presence of gases in the Earth's atmosphere that have the ability to delay long waves. They are called "greenhouse" or "greenhouse" gases.

Greenhouse gases have been present in the atmosphere in small amounts (about 0.1%) since its formation. This amount was enough to maintain the Earth's heat balance at a level suitable for life due to the greenhouse effect. This is the so-called natural greenhouse effect, if it were not for it, the average temperature of the Earth's surface would be 30 ° C not +15°C, as it is now, but -18°C.

The natural greenhouse effect does not threaten either the Earth or humanity, since the total amount of greenhouse gases was maintained at the same level due to the cycle of nature, moreover, we owe our lives to it.

But an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leads to an increase in the greenhouse effect and a violation of the heat balance of the Earth. This is exactly what happened in the last two centuries of the development of civilization. Coal-fired power plants, car exhausts, factory chimneys and other man-made sources of pollution emit about 22 billion tons of greenhouse gases per year into the atmosphere.

What gases are called "greenhouse" gases?

The best known and most common greenhouse gases are water vapor(H 2 O), carbon dioxide(CO2), methane(CH 4) and laughing gas or nitrous oxide (N 2 O). These are direct greenhouse gases. Most of them are formed during the combustion of fossil fuels.

In addition, there are two more groups of direct greenhouse gases, these are halocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride(SF6). Their emissions into the atmosphere are associated with modern technologies and industrial processes (electronics and refrigeration equipment). Their amount in the atmosphere is quite negligible, but their impact on the greenhouse effect (the so-called global warming potential / GWP) is tens of thousands of times stronger than CO 2 .

Water vapor is the main greenhouse gas responsible for more than 60% of the natural greenhouse effect. An anthropogenic increase in its concentration in the atmosphere has not yet been noted. However, an increase in the Earth's temperature, caused by other factors, increases the evaporation of ocean water, which can lead to an increase in the concentration of water vapor in the atmosphere and - to an increase in the greenhouse effect. On the other hand, clouds in the atmosphere reflect direct sunlight, which reduces the flow of energy to the Earth and, accordingly, reduces the greenhouse effect.

Carbon dioxide is the best known of the greenhouse gases. Natural sources of CO 2 are volcanic emissions, vital activity of organisms. Anthropogenic sources are the combustion of fossil fuels (including forest fires) as well as a range of industrial processes (eg cement production, glass production). Carbon dioxide, according to most researchers, is primarily responsible for global warming caused by the "greenhouse effect". CO 2 concentrations have risen by more than 30% over two centuries of industrialization and are correlated with changes in global average temperature.

Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas. It is emitted due to leakage in the development of deposits of coal and natural gas, from pipelines, during the combustion of biomass, in landfills (as an integral part of biogas), as well as in agriculture (cattle breeding, rice growing), etc. Animal husbandry, fertilizer application, coal burning and other sources produce about 250 million tons of methane per year. The amount of methane in the atmosphere is small, but its greenhouse effect or global warming potential (GWP) is 21 times stronger than that of CO 2 .

Nitrous oxide is the third most important greenhouse gas: its impact is 310 times stronger than that of CO 2, but it is found in the atmosphere in very small quantities. It enters the atmosphere as a result of the vital activity of plants and animals, as well as in the production and use of mineral fertilizers, the work of chemical industry enterprises.

Halocarbons (hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons) are gases created to replace ozone-depleting substances. They are mainly used in refrigeration equipment. They have exceptionally high coefficients of influence on the greenhouse effect: 140-11700 times higher than those of CO 2. Their emissions (release into the environment) are small, but are growing rapidly.

Sulfur hexafluoride - its entry into the atmosphere is associated with electronics and the production of insulating materials. While it is small, but the volume is constantly increasing. The global warming potential is 23900 units.