Greenhouse effect and solar

Solar energy that makes its way to earth can have trouble getting back out to space. The greenhouse effect causes some of this energy to be stranded in the atmosphere,  which is then absorbed and released by greenhouse gases. Without this greenhouse effect, earth’s temperature would be below freezing. However, the earth’s greenhouse effect is increasing because we continue to add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. That’s is a principal cause for the warming the climate of our planet.

Greenhouse gases are complex

Solar energy absorbed by earth’s surface is radiated back into the atmosphere as heat. As the heat passes through the atmosphere and backs out to space, greenhouse gases absorb much of the heat. Why do greenhouse gases absorb heat? Greenhouse gases are more complex than other gas molecules in the atmosphere, with the ability to absorb heat. They radiate the heat back to the Earth's surface, or out to space.

Different types of greenhouse gases

Scientists have isolated several different types of greenhouse gases. The best known are carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, and nitrous oxide. These gas molecules all are made of three or more atoms. The atoms are held together loosely enough that they vibrate when they absorb heat. Eventually, the vibrating molecules release the radiation, which will likely be absorbed by another greenhouse gas molecule. This process keeps heat near the Earth’s surface.

Increase greenhouse gases and we increase heat too

It may be true that only a small amount of the gases in the earth’s atmosphere are greenhouse gases, but they still have a huge effect on climate. Sometime during this century, scientists expect the amount of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to double. Other greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide are increasing alarmingly as well. The quantity of greenhouse gases is increasing as fossil fuels continue to be burned, releasing the gases and other air pollutants into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases also find their way to the atmosphere from other sources. Farm animals release methane gas as they digest food. As cement is made from limestone, it releases carbon dioxide. With more greenhouse gases in the air, heat passing through the atmosphere. The added greenhouse gases absorb the heat. They then radiate this heat into the oceans and the atmosphere. Some of the heat will veer away from the Earth, some of it will be absorbed by another greenhouse gas molecule, and some of it will end up back at the planet’s surface again. 

There has never been a better time to install a solar energy system!

Solar power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power. Go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. It tells you how much solar power you need, and how much you can save.

Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.