The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect (Cambridge International IGCSE Environmental Management)

What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

• The enhanced greenhouse effect occurs when there are higher levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) than usual in the atmosphere

• The more greenhouse gases there are in the atmosphere, the more solar radiation is absorbed and less thermal (heat) energy escaping into space

• This leads to global warming

  • The effect is caused by human activities that have produced excessive greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, trapping heat and increasing global warming

    • Human activity has increased CO₂ levels in the atmosphere by more than 100 parts per million (ppm) to 420 ppm in 2020
    • Which has increased global average temperatures by over 1°C since pre-industrial times

Human activities lead to the emission of greenhouse gases that enhance the greenhouse effect, contributing to global warming

Is climate change the same as global warming?

• The simple answer is no, but they are related to each other
• Climate change is a long-term change in average temperatures and weather patterns that define local, regional and global climates, usually over a 30-year period
• Global warming is the rise of Earth's average surface temperatures because of the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels
• The rise of global temperatures can and is changing global climates
• Therefore, excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leads to a variety of environmental, social and economic problems

Exam Hint The term 'climate change' refers to all the different ways that global warming can change the Earth's climate. These changes can affect weather patterns, sea levels, and ecosystems.