GREEN HOUSE GASES

          Green House Gases is a gas that absorbs and emits radiant energy within the thermal infrared range. Green House gases cause green house effect. The primary green house gases in the earth’s Atmosphere are Water vapour, Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide gases cause the green house effect and ozone depression. Without green house gases the average temperature of earth’s surface will be about -18⁰C rather than the present average of 15⁰C.

 According to Mwakalila S, (2011). Green house gases refer to the gases which allow direct sunlight (relative short wave energy) to reach the earth surface unimpeded. As the short wave energy (that is visible and ultraviolet portion of the spectra) heat the surface longer-wave (infrared) energy (heat) in reradiated to the atmosphere. Green houses gases absorb this energy, there allowing less heat to escape to space and trapping, it in the lower atmosphere

Also Green house gases that absorbs and emits radiant energy with the thermal infrared range, Or is any gaseous compound in the atmosphere that is capable of absorbing infrared radiation, there by trapping and holding heat in the atmosphere, green houses gases are responsible for green house effect which ultimately leads to global warming. The following are the causes of green house gases, which are:

          Industrial activities, Industries produces 40% in the atmosphere concentration of carbon dioxide and methane gases by that gases which cause green house effect through destroy the ozone layer and lead to the solar radiation to the earth surface which lead to global warming. Example, cement manufacture contribute carbon dioxide to the atmosphere when calcium carbonate is heated producing lime and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is also produced by burning fossils fuel that provides heat for the cement manufacture processes. It estimate that the cement industry produce about 5% of global man made of carbon dioxide emission of which 50% is produced from chemical processes itself and 40% from burning fuel to the power that process.

          Agriculture activities, divided into two parts which are crop cultivation and animal keeping whereby in crop cultivation due to the use of Agro-chemical and fertilizers contain methane gases which become the factor influence green house gases, for example in pads agriculture whereby there is the use of chemicals and go direct to the ozone layer and lead to destroy it that cause global warming in the earth surface. Also in animal keeping due to keeping large number of animals, example cattle’s produce the organic manure which produce biogases which contain methane gases and go directly to the atmosphere and cause green house gases.

          Mining activities, this is due to the use of bomb to extract minerals from the ground whereby different gases like carbon dioxide, Nitrous oxide are being emitted hence causing green house gases. Also some minerals itself like uranium tend to produce these green house gases like Hexafluoride (UF₆) not only that but also different machines applied during the process of extraction tends to produce green house gases like carbon dioxide. Example Geita Gold Mining (GGM), Mwadui

          Transportation, the transportation sector generating the largest share emission  of green house gases , the green house gases emitted from transportation primarily come from burning fossil fuel like petroleum which include gasoline and diesel for cars, trucks, ships and trains which emits gases like carbon dioxide gas, also emit smoke which lead to increase of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

            Deforestation, this involve cutting down trees in the bush permanent this lead to the shortage of plant species which help in absorbing some green house gases like carbon dioxide, so the absence or scarcity of trees lead to the increase the rate of concentration of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

          Development of modern weapons, for example nuclear bombs which are mostly used now days in wars. Whereby these weapons tends to emits carbon dioxide which are among the green house gases hence cause green house effect, this weapons used by Korea, United state of America.

          In fact that, although man cause much the occurrences of green house gases but there are natural factors like volcanic eruption, which tends to emits carbon dioxide gases, also green house gases it associated with some effects such as formation of acidic rain, global warming, climatic change as well as loss of biodiversity.

Thanks to Group member Number 13 MNMA  EGH

 REFFERENCE OF BOOKS

1.      Bast, J (2010): Seven theories of climatic change; what Climatic Change?  What is man’s influence?  What do leading scientists believe?  Science and Public Policy Institute.

2.      Mwakalila, S  (2011): Climatic change and adaptation; University of Dare es Salaam.

3.      Waugh, D. (1996): Geography; An integrated Approached. Second Edition, Nelson House Mayfield Road. UK

4.      Karl TR, Trenberth KE (2003). Modern global climate change