 Global Warming : The temperature on the earth is rising.

This phenomenon known as Global Warming is

the result of enhanced concentration of Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere caused mainly by human
activities. Consequences of Global Warming:

1. This Global temperature is likely rise by 2 to 5°C during the next century. Due to rise in temperature by
2 to 5°C, there is a chance of melting of ice caps on Earth’s poles. melting of ice will result in the rise of
the sea level. Large stretches of low lying areas will submerge and many island countries will face deep
encroachment by sea water. Some may disappear altogether.
2. As the increase in temperature will be uniform all over the surface of the world, there will be serious
climatic changes. This will bring various changes in wind and rain patterns.
3. Higher temperature will cause rise in transpiration, which in turn, will affect the groundwater table.
4. As the climatic belts shift from equator towards pole, the vegetation would also shift away from the
equator.
5. Insects and pests will increase in the warmer climatic conditions. Thus, pathogenic diseases will
multiply.

 Greenhouse Effect: Greenhouse are built in cold areas to grow the plants within it in warm
temperature. But, due to Global Warming the whole earth is becoming a Greenhouse due to increase in
temperature, which indirectly disturb the normal life on earth by challenging nature and nature will
originate many unwanted problems of change in climate, radiation imbalance, diseases etc.
The rate of absorption of solar radiation by earth and its emission back into space as infra-red waves
balances the heat on earth. This phenomenon plays a very important role in maintaining surface
temperature of earth. The carbon dioxide and other gases form a blanket around the globe which
prevent the passage of infra-red waves from earth back into space. Concentration of solar radiation
produces much heat, making earth a very warm place. This phenomenon is similar to that of
greenhouse in which the glass enclosed area gets heated up due to its insulation from the rest of the
environment. Hence, warming of the atmosphere is due to the greenhouse effect. Hence, Global
Warming is also known as Greenhouse Effect.
 Normal Lapse Rate of Temperature : The decrease in Temperature is known as normal lapse rate,
which is calculated as average decrease of 1°C for every 166 metres altitude gained. The lapse rate
works mainly in troposphere which results in various types of weather and climatic changes affecting
the life on earth.
 CFCs : (Chlorofluorocarbons) are organic compounds that contain carbon, chlorine, fluorine produced
as volatile deriatives of methane and ethane which catalyze the conversion of ozone (O3) into O2, while
O3 is more powerful to absorb ultra-violet rays than that of O2. So CFCs disturb the ozone layer which is
so essential for earth.

Q1. What is the significance of solid particles in the atmosphere ?

Answer:
The solid particles present in the atmosphere are of dust, smoke, pollen grains and emissions released from chimneys of
factories.
Give Reasons :-

1. The Earth does not experience extremes of temperature as in other planets.

2. The amount of water vapour in the atmosphere varies from place to place.
3. Solid particles play an important role in the atmosphere.
4. In the troposphere, the temperature decreases with height.
5. The stratosphere is crucial to life on Earth.
6. The ionosphere (thermosphere) is suited to long distance communication.
7. As a jet plane flies high in the sky, it leaves a white trail behind.
8. The exosphere allows the gas molecules to easily escape into space.
9. Dust particles plays a significant role in the atmosphere.

Answers:-

1. The earth does not experience extremes of temperature as on other planets due to the presence of the atmosphere.
2. The amount of water vapour in the atmosphere varies from place to place due to difference in temperature.
3. The solid particles play an important role in the atmosphere because they act as nuclei for the condensation of
water vapour around them.
4. The troposphere lies closest to the Earth’s surface and contains all the water vapour, mostly dust particles and
clouds. This layer is subjected to intense mixing due to both horizontal and vertical circulation. Thus, the
temperature decreases with height in this layer.
5. The stratosphere is crucial to life on the earth because the ozone layer present in it absorbs the harmful
ultraviolet radiation of the sun.
6. The ionosphere is suited to long distance communication because radio waves used for this purpose are reflected
back to the earth by the electrically charged gas molecules in it.
7. As a jet plane flies high in the sky, it leaves a white trail behind because moisture from the engine forms
condensation tracks which are not disturbed due to lack of air movement at that height.
8. The exosphere allows the gas molecules to easily escape into space due to lack of gravity.
9. Solid dust particles present in the atmosphere act as a nuclei for change of water vapour into raindrops around
them.They also scatter Sun’s radiation during Sunrise or Sunset, However, dust particles present in the lower
layer of atmosphere may be harmful to us. They are the greatest health hazards.

Properties of Troposphere :

1. It extends to a height of 18 km at the equator and declines gradually to a height of 8 km at the poles.
2. Most of the weather phenomena take place in this layer.
3. It contains almost all the water vapour and most of the dust particles. It is a turbulent zone.
4. The upper limit of troposphere is called tropopause.
5. In the troposphere, the temperature of air decreases at an average rate of 1°C for every 166 metres.

Properties of Ionosphere :

1. It extends from 80 km to 480 km.

2. It contains electrically charged gas molecules which reflect the radio waves used in long distance communication
back to the earth.
3. The northern lights or aurora borealis are in this zone,
4. The temperature in this layer rises to a very high degree because the molecules in this layer absorb X-rays and
ultra violet radiation coming from the sun.