Causes & Effects of Greenhouse Gas
Greenhouse gases trap heat inside the Earth's atmosphere. In the United States, most of these gases are produced by the transportation and industrial sectors. The net impact of greenhouse gas emissions is called global warming or climate change.
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Energy Consumption
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More than 4/5 of the greenhouse gases generated in the United States result from energy consumption. Petroleum use creates over one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
Methane Gas
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Methane is a greenhouse gas that arises from human activity and natural sources. Nine percent of human-made greenhouse gas is methane. Methane can stay in the atmosphere for up to 15 years and retains 20 times more heat than carbon dioxide.
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Nitrous Oxide
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Five percent of the greenhouse gas emitted in the U.S. is nitrous oxide. The agricultural sector and nitrogen fertilizer are major sources of nitrous oxide. This gas remains in the atmosphere for over 100 years and causes 310 times more heat retention than carbon dioxide.
Flourinated Gases
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Flourinated gases are also called High Global Warming Potential gases, because they can retain up to 23,900 times as much heat in the atmosphere as the same amount of carbon dioxide. These gases represent two percent of greenhouse emissions in the U.S. Most flourinated gases are used as replacements for ozone-depleting gases that were outlawed under the Clean Air Act.
Global Warming
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Greenhouse gases cause global warming. Our atmosphere is warming faster than many scientists predicted.
Sea Levels
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Glaciers are shrinking as a result of accumulating greenhouse gases. Sea levels rose half a foot more than normal during the 20th century and could be two feet higher than that by the year 2100.
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References
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