GREENHOUSE

 

 A greenhouse is a structure with walls and roofs made chiefly of transparent materials such as glass or plastics in which plants requiring regulated climatic conditions are grown. A greenhouse is also called a glasshouse or a hothouse. The size of greenhouses ranges from small sheds to industrial-sized buildings. A miniature greenhouse is known as a cold frame. The interior of a greenhouse exposed to sunlight becomes significantly warmer than the external ambient temperature protecting its contents in cold weather.

                                                                                                      FACT FILE:

                                                                                                        The house-made artificially by glass or plastic in potential gardens or agricultural fields is called an artificial greenhouse.

Greenhouses are used extensively by botanists, commercial plant growers, and gardeners. Particularly, coon climates and greenhouses are useful for growing and propagating plants because they both allow sunlight, to enter and prevent heat from escaping.

This article will have a quick look at the natural environment, greenhouse effect, adverse consequences of the greenhouse, its importance and utilities, climate, climate change causes and effects, and climate change and measures of climate and climate change management.

GREENHOUSE EFFECT

Different types of gases like carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, methane, oxides of nitrogen, water vapor, etc. are present in the atmosphere. These gases cover the earth's surface making a dense canopy similar to the glass frame of an artificial greenhouse. The dense canopy of different gases allows the solar radiation to the earth's surface but does not allow it to escape out after reflection. As a result, these solar radiations are absorbed in the atmosphere, increasing the temperature of the earth. The phenomenon of increasing the temperature of the earth as in artificial greenhouse are called greenhouse gases. Environment scientists estimated that carbon dioxide had a 57% impact on the greenhouse effect, chlorofluorocarbons had 25, methane had 12%, and that oxides of nitrogen were 6%. The temperature of the earth is increasing gradually to the greenhouse effect. This process is called global warming. A large mass of ice in the polar caps melt due to global warming which increases the level of the sea resulting in T-Sunami and floods causing damage to the property of coastal areas and wiping out. Similarly, the temperature of higher regions is increasing more as compared to the lower regions due to the drying of water resources and reduction in the amount of ice in the Himalayan region.

THE SOURCES OF GREENHOUSE

    The greenhouse is released from different human activities as well as by some natural processes. Some of them are given below:

1. Carbon Dioxide gas (CO2) is produced by burning coal, oil natural gases, etc.

2. Methane (CH4) is produced from the decomposition of domestic wastages and sewage.

3. Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) is released from refrigerators, air conditioners, aerosol spray cans, etc.

4. Water vapor (H2O) is released from the oxidation of organic compounds as well as the vaporization of water from water resources.

IMPORTANCE OF GREENHOUSE EFFECT

If there were no greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, all the solar radiation entering the earth's surface would escape into space. As a result, heat would not be stored on the earth. Consequently, the temperature of the earth would be less by 39 degrees Celsius than today's temperature. Ice would cover the earth and there would not be any organisms on the earth. So, the greenhouse effect is very important for the existence of lives on the earth.

ADVERSE IMPACTS OF GREENHOUSE EFFECT

Due to the various human activities, the concentration of greenhouse gases is increasing day by day. It increases the temperature of the earth. The adverse consequences of the greenhouse effect are given below:

    1. Effects on animals

            i. It helps to spread different types of diseases like malaria, filariasis, cholera, diarrhea, etc.

           ii. It helps to increase the pathogenic insects.

    2. Effects on the plants

           i. It affects the water cycle, soil moisture, and soil composition. As a result, there is a change in the cultivation and harvesting periods of the crops.

        ii. Due to the effect of global warming, tropical plants are seen in temperate regions.

       iii. It helps in the breeding, growth, and development of disease-causing insects.

    3. Effects on climate

            i. It increases the temperature of the earth.

           ii. It brings melting of ice, in the polar region, which increases the sea level. As a result, low         land        areas of the earth may submerge.

          iii. It changes the pattern of rainfall and weather conditions.

WAYS OF CONTROLLING THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

The greenhouse effect can be controlled by the following methods:

 1. It can be controlled by decreasing deforestation and increasing afforestation.

2. It can be controlled by reducing the use of fossil fuels like petrol, diesel, kerosene, coal, etc.

3. It can be controlled by banning the production and use of CFCs.

4. It can be controlled by sung solar energy, wind energy, and biogas, etc.

ARTIFICIAL GREENHOUSE

The houses which are made artificially by glasses and plastics in botanical gardens or agricultural fields are called artificial greenhouses. These allow the microwaves of sunlight to enter but do not allow them to escape ours after the reflection. As a result, they convert into energy is stored inside the greenhouse. Ultimately, the temperature inside the greenhouse increases. The roof of the artificial greenhouse is slanted to allow more sunlight to enter.

 

   IMPORTANCE AND UTILITIES ARTIFICIAL GREENHOUSE

Greenhouses have more temperature than their surroundings. So, different types of plants like flowers, and fruits, vegetables, etc can be grown if off-season. It helps to earn money, greenhouses help prevent the extinction of some plants due to global warming. Similarly, the plants that grow in hot places can be grown inside the greenhouses. The importance and the utilities of greenhouses are:\

1. Some species of plants can be grown throughout the year inside the greenhouse.

2. Fruits, vegetables, flowers, etc. can be grown in off-seasons.

3. In cold conditions, crops and other plants can be grown inside the greenhouses.

4. The plants that grow in the summer season can be grown in the winter season inside artificial greenhouses.

5. The plants are grown inside the artificial greenhouse help to control environmental pollution. 

 

CLIMATE CHANGE    

Climate change is an atmospheric phenomenon over a long period. Climate change refers to the variation in the earth's global climate or in regional climate over time. Human beings are responsible for changes in the climate of a region. The main factor for climate change is an increase in the level of Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Overuse of fossils fuels, deforestation, burning of firewood, forest fire, etc. increase the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an expected period, i.e. decades to millions of years. It may refer to a change in average weather conditions or in the time variation of weather around the long-term average condition. Nepal has different climatic conditions due to variations in geographical structures. Nepal is extended from 60 to 8848m. Nepal has been divided into Terai, Hilly, and Himalayan regions. The climate of Nepal ranges from extreme hot to extreme cold. So, Nepal is a sensitive country in terms of climate change and climate change is the burning issue of Nepal.

 

CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE    

Climate change is caused by various factors such as biotic processes, variations in solar radiations received by the earth, tectonic movement, volcanic eruptions, etc. Certain human activities like deforestation, industrialization, excessive use of chemical fertilizers, etc. play a significant role in climate change. The major cause of climate change are given below:

1. Increase in temperature 

Different parts of the earth receive different amounts of solar radiation due to geographical variation. The parts of the earth that receive more solar radiation become more hooter than the parts that receive less solar radiation. The increased temperature is one of the causes of change.

2. Release of greenhouse gases

Different types of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, etc. The amount of carbon dioxide gas for photosynthesis. The amount of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere increases due to deforestation which results in an increase in temperature and climate change.

3. Excessive use of chemical fertilizer

Greenhouse gases are released due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers. Similarly, the overuse of chemical fertilizers makes the land dry. As a result, the temperature of the earth increases, and change in climate takes place.

Deforestation

Forests help to maintain balance in the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere as green plants use carbon dioxide gas for photosynthesis. The amount of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere increases due to deforestation which results in an increase in temperature and climate change.

Industrialization

Various types of gases like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, etc. are released into the atmosphere while running industries. These gases contribute to the greenhouse effect which results in climate change.

Volcanic Eruptions

Dust particles and compounds of sulfur are released during a volcanic eruption. These substances accumulate in the stratosphere and block the solar radiation which results in climate change.

EFFECTS IN CLIMATE CHANGE    

1.  It causes loss of bio-diversity.
2.  It decreases agricultural production and changes in crop patterns.
3.  It melts snow in polar regions and the Himalayan region.
4.  It increases the level of seawater, due to melting the office in the polar region.
5.  It decreases the amount of fresh water.
6.  It affects the global water cycle.
7.  It changes wind circulation and affects the pattern of rainfall of a particular place.
8.  It causes the improper distribution of rainfall.

MEASURES OF CLIMATE CHANGE MANAGEMENT   

     1. Deforestation should be discouraged and afforestation should be encouraged.

     2. Plantation should be done on bare parts of the land.

     3. The resources of water should be conserved and managed.

     4. Overuse of fossil fuels should be reduced.

     5. Alternative sources of energy should be developed and used.

     6. Environment pollution should be minimized.

     6. Release of greenhouse gases should be stopped.

     7. Use of chlorofluorocarbons should be banned.

     8. Proper management of waster materials should be done.

     9. Natural Environment should be conserved.

    10.  Agriculture should be improved.

    11. Unmanaged development works should be controlled.

    12. Proper usage of automobiles should be ensured.

    13. Overuse of chemical fertilizers should be discouraged.

    14. Public awareness should be generated. 

Z   ·       Summary

1.    A the greenhouse is a structure with walls and roofs, made entirely of transparent materials such as glass or plastic in which plants requiring regulated climatic conditions are made

2.    Greenhouses are used extensively by botanists, commercial plant growers, and gardeners.

3.    The houses that are made artificially by glasses or plastics in botanical gardens or agricultural fields are artificial greenhouses.

4.    Greenhouses have more temperature than their surroundings. So, different plants like flowers, fruits, and vegetables can be grown inside the greenhouse.

5.    Climate is the atmospheric phenomenon over a long period of time. Climate change refers to the variation in the earth's global climate or the regional climate over time.

6.    Climate change is a change in the statiscal distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time. i.e. decades to millions of years.

7.    Climate change is caused nu various factors such as the biotic process, variations in solar radiations received in the earth, tectonic movements, volcanic eruptions, etc.

8.    Increase in temperature, the release of greenhouse gases, deforestation, excessive use of chemical fertilizers, industrialization, volcanic eruptions, etc. are the major causes of climate change.