How can greenhouse effect be harmful

Human activities such as agriculture, fuel combustion, wastewater management, and industrial processes are increasing the amount of N 2 O in the atmosphere. Nitrous oxide is also naturally present in the atmosphere as part of the Earth's nitrogen cycle, and has a variety of natural sources. Nitrous oxide molecules stay in the atmosphere for an average of years before being removed by a sink or destroyed through chemical reactions.

The impact of 1 pound of N 2 O on warming the atmosphere is almost times that of 1 pound of carbon dioxide. Nitrous oxide emissions occur naturally through many sources associated with the nitrogen cycle, which is the natural circulation of nitrogen among the atmosphere, plants, animals, and microorganisms that live in soil and water.

Nitrogen takes on a variety of chemical forms throughout the nitrogen cycle, including N 2 O. Natural emissions of N 2 O are mainly from bacteria breaking down nitrogen in soils and the oceans.

Nitrous oxide is removed from the atmosphere when it is absorbed by certain types of bacteria or destroyed by ultraviolet radiation or chemical reactions. To find out more about the sources of N 2 O and its role in warming the atmosphere, visit the Climate Change Indicators page. Nitrous oxide emissions in the United States have remained relatively flat between and Nitrous oxide emissions from mobile combustion decreased by 60 percent from to as a result of emission control standards for on-road vehicles.

Nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural soils have varied during this period and were about 9 percent higher in than in , primarily driven by increasing use of nitrogen fertilizers.

The application of nitrogen fertilizers accounts for the majority of N 2 O emissions in the United States. Emissions can be reduced by reducing nitrogen-based fertilizer applications and applying these fertilizers more efficiently, 3 as well as modifying a farm's manure management practices.

Additionally, the introduction of pollution control technologies e. Production of adipic acid results in N 2 O emissions that can be reduced through technological upgrades. Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Potential in U. Forestry and Agriculture.

Unlike many other greenhouse gases, fluorinated gases have no natural sources and only come from human-related activities. They are emitted through their use as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances e. Many fluorinated gases have very high global warming potentials GWPs relative to other greenhouse gases, so small atmospheric concentrations can have disproportionately large effects on global temperatures.

They can also have long atmospheric lifetimes—in some cases, lasting thousands of years. Like other long-lived greenhouse gases, most fluorinated gases are well-mixed in the atmosphere, spreading around the world after they are emitted. Many fluorinated gases are removed from the atmosphere only when they are destroyed by sunlight in the far upper atmosphere.

In general, fluorinated gases are the most potent and longest lasting type of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities. The largest sources of fluorinated gas emissions are described below. To find out more about the role of fluorinated gases in warming the atmosphere and their sources, visit the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gas Emissions page. Overall, fluorinated gas emissions in the United States have increased by about 86 percent between and This increase has been driven by a percent increase in emissions of hydrofluorocarbons HFCs since , as they have been widely used as a substitute for ozone-depleting substances.

Emissions of perfluorocarbons PFCs and sulfur hexafluoride SF 6 have actually declined during this time due to emission reduction efforts in the aluminum production industry PFCs and the electricity transmission and distribution industry SF 6. Because most fluorinated gases have a very long atmospheric lifetime, it will take many years to see a noticeable decline in current concentrations. However, there are a number of ways to reduce emissions of fluorinated gases, described below.

Refrigerants used by businesses and residences emit fluorinated gases. Emissions can be reduced by better handling of these gases and use of substitutes with lower global warming potentials and other technological improvements. Industrial users of fluorinated gases can reduce emissions by adopting fluorinated gas recycling and destruction processes, optimizing production to minimize emissions, and replacing these gases with alternatives.

EPA has experience with these gases in the following sectors:. Sulfur hexafluoride is an extremely potent greenhouse gas that is used for several purposes when transmitting electricity through the power grid.

EPA is working with industry to reduce emissions through the SF 6 Emission Reduction Partnership for Electric Power Systems , which promotes leak detection and repair, use of recycling equipment, and employee training.

Hydrofluorocarbons HFCs are released through the leakage of refrigerants used in vehicle air-conditioning systems. Leakage can be reduced through better system components, and through the use of alternative refrigerants with lower global warming potentials than those presently used. Skip to main content.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Contact Us. Overview of Greenhouse Gases. An explanation of units: A million metric tons is equal to about 2. Methane Emissions Properties of Methane. The problem is when the concentration of greenhouse gases is altered.

More greenhouse gases in the atmosphere means more solar energy traped and converted into heat. This consequently leads to an increase of the global earth temperature. That is what we call 'global warming'. The consequences will differ depending on the regions on earth, but among the most problematic for humans population you can find - melting icecaps, sheets, and glaciers - increase of sea levels causing floods and submersion of some islands and lands at the sea level - biodiversity changes - severe heat waves.

The Greenhouse Effect itself is not inherently harmful to humans but the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can trap more heat, causing global warming. The greenhouse effect itself is not inherently harmful to humans. The greenhouse effect releases some energy from the planet but it also retains energy, warming the planet.

Refer to this related question on how greenhouse gases are good and bad. It is the rapidly rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that trap more heat, causing global warming.

Refer to this related question on how the greenhouse effect is connected to global warming. Why is the greenhouse effect harmful to humans? But some of the heat is trapped by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

That's what keeps our Earth a warm and cozy 58 degrees Fahrenheit 14 degrees Celsius , on average. Earth's atmosphere traps some of the Sun's heat, preventing it from escaping back into space at night.

Human activities are changing Earth's natural greenhouse effect. Burning fossil fuels like coal and oil puts more carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. NASA has observed increases in the amount of carbon dioxide and some other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Too much of these greenhouse gases can cause Earth's atmosphere to trap more and more heat. This causes Earth to warm up.

Just like a glass greenhouse, Earth's greenhouse is also full of plants! Plants can help to balance the greenhouse effect on Earth. All plants — from giant trees to tiny phytoplankton in the ocean — take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. The ocean also absorbs a lot of excess carbon dioxide in the air. Unfortunately, the increased carbon dioxide in the ocean changes the water, making it more acidic.