Lifting the Veil on Climate Change: How Greenhouse Gases Work
How do greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide trap heat? We demystify greenhouse gases, point out major emitters, and suggest moving towards consensus on potential solutions.
Image by Ria Sopala from Pixabay
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a critical greenhouse gas with significant implications for climate change. To address the urgency of this issue, it is essential to understand how greenhouse gases (GHGs) function and their effects on global temperatures.
Greenhouse gases, including CO₂ and methane (CH₄), are fundamental to the theory of anthropogenic climate change. GHGs refer to ambient atmospheric gases that retain the (infrared) heat from the sun’s light.
This primer aims to clarify how these gases operate to trap heat and their broader impact on our climate. Let’s discuss GHGs, their role in our atmosphere, and who emits them.
Earth and Moon: The Role of Atmospheres
Photo by Lisa Fotios via Pexels
The Earth and the Moon, despite being similar distances from the Sun, exhibit vastly different temperature profiles due to their atmospheric conditions. The Moon, which lacks much atmosphere, experiences extreme temperature fluctuations—from 106°C (224°F) in direct sunlight to -183°C (-298°F) in shadow. It does not retain or buffer solar radiation.
By contrast, Earth’s atmosphere consists of approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and trace amounts of other gases including CO₂ (about 0.04%). It plays a crucial role in moderating temperatures. The Earth’s mass far outweighs that of the moon.
For better comparison, over 50 moons could fit into the Earth. The moon’s density is just 60% of Earth’s density. That’s Mass divided by Volume. In terms of weight, the Earth weighs 81 times what the Moon weighs. Earth’s relative mass gives it the gravitational pull to accumulate a thick blanket of atmosphere.
Earth’s atmosphere effectively retains heat and stabilizes temperatures, which can range from -89.2°C (-128.6°F) to 56.7°C (134°F). Although CO₂ makes up only a small fraction of the atmosphere, its impact on global temperatures is significant.
Photo by Pixabay
Interactions Between the Atmosphere and Solar Energy
The Earth’s atmosphere performs essential functions by interacting with solar energy. It protects the planet from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation through the ozone layer and allows about two-thirds of visible light to reach the surface.
Additionally, the atmosphere retains infrared radiation (heat) emitted from the Earth’s surface. This heat retention ensures a more stable and hospitable surface temperature when compared to the Moon’s extreme variations.
Absorption of Infrared Radiation by Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases, such as CO₂ and CH₄, possess molecular structures that enable them to absorb and re-radiate infrared radiation. Unlike the balanced molecules of nitrogen and oxygen, greenhouse gases have uneven electron distributions, which allow them to capture heat through vibrational and rotational motion. This property is crucial for their role in the greenhouse effect.
Impact of Human Activities on Greenhouse Gas Levels
Historical data indicates that most greenhouse gas emissions originated from the United States and the Global North. Some argue that China now emits GHGs more rapidly than we do, but they also have five times the US population.
The glut of emissions over time comes from us. Our per capita emissions greatly exceed theirs. Plus, much of the demand of the East comes from the West for cheaper goods and resources.
Via Carbon Brief
The high emissions are largely attributable to heating and electricity generation, industrial activities, military and conflicts, and consumption patterns of the wealthiest. Conversely, lower-income and working-class individuals typically have lower emissions due to limited financial resources and reduced consumption. Their impoverishment stems directly from the systemic nature of private profiteers exploiting laborers who rely on wages to survive.
There is a greater disparity in greenhouse gas emissions within countries than between them when you account for the socioeconomic status of individuals. The top 10% who emit greenhouse gases account for 50% of total emissions worldwide. This holds regardless of the specific country.
Photo via the International Energy Agency
A substantial portion of global energy production relies on fossil fuels, with coal and natural gas being primary sources for electricity generation. Although the share of coal in energy production has decreased, the overall energy demand continues to rise, particularly with the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) and related technologies. Moreover, gasoline remains the predominant fuel for automobiles.
Infographic via US Energy Information Administration
Power demands are often driven by industries that contribute minimally to societal well-being and instead focus on wealth accumulation. That is besides the aforementioned “military and conflicts” category which implies the GHGs emitted by our incursions. I refer to how we use our might to destabilize regions and create favorable economic conditions for multinational corporations at the expense of people who live in the places we incur upon.
Another example of power consumption for the sake of capital is the cryptocurrency industry. Bitcoin requires extensive computational power to perpetuate itself, as do Proof-of-Work models. Bitcoin alone consumes more electricity annually than entire nations such as Argentina. This proves problematic given most power generated comes from fossil fuels at present.
Photo via Pixabay
Also, the latest artificial intelligence craze demands boatloads of power and water. Are these fascinations worth their costs? These examples serve to perpetuate wealth concentration rather than provide equitable social value.
While pursuing economic growth and technological advancement leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions, the benefits are not distributed fairly. The ongoing reliance on fossil fuels and the inefficiencies of certain industries highlight the need for a critical reassessment of energy consumption practices. We must also consider whether there are better ways to distribute resources to promote the general welfare, like an economic revolution.
Conclusion
Comparing Earth with the Moon highlights the critical role of the atmosphere in regulating temperature. Greenhouse gases, despite their minor presence, are essential for maintaining Earth’s climate balance. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for addressing climate change and implementing effective solutions.
Systems of trade and power perpetuate a demand for greater energy production. We must recognize those who are responsible for this situation. Demand those with the power to fix the environmental messes they made. We can also disengage or decrease demand as we can given individual socioeconomic factors.
Photo by Thomas Richter on Unsplash
Regardless, our changed climate is here to stay. This won’t go away anytime soon, and it will likely get worse before it gets better. This is the magnitude of the current situation, even if we completely ceased emissions at this very moment.
This article aims to clarify the role of greenhouse gases in climate regulation, emphasizing who emits them and the need for informed action. As we confront climate change, we must address misconceptions and work towards solutions that ensure a sustainable future. Only by examining reality with a clear vision will we begin to take the necessary steps to address it.
First Published on Medium