Alisa’s Research on Greenhouse Gases

The following blog was researched and typed* in its entirety by Alisa Goydenko, Y3.

Greenhouse Gases

The atmosphere is made out of gases. The sun heats the atmosphere during the day. When the sun goes down, the greenhouse gasses keep the earth warm. That’s what keeps our Earth a warm and cozy 14 degrees Celsius, on average.

Some greenhouse gasses are dangerous. Human activities are changing Earth’s natural greenhouse effect. Burning fossil fuels like coal and oil puts more carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. Just like a glass greenhouse, Earth’s greenhouse is also full of plants! Plants can help to balance the greenhouse effect on Earth. All plants — from giant trees to tiny phytoplankton in the ocean — take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen.

The ocean also absorbs a lot of excess carbon dioxide in the air. Unfortunately, the increased carbon dioxide in the ocean changes the water, making it more acidic. This is called ocean acidification. More acidic water can be harmful to many ocean creatures, such as certain shellfish and coral. Warming oceans — from too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere — can also be harmful to these organisms. Warmer waters are a main cause of coral bleaching.

*copying and pasting was permitted based on understanding.