refers to the amount of global warming caused by a substance. The GWP is the
ratio of the warming caused by a substance to the warming caused by a similar
mass of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). Thus, the GWP of CO 2 is 1.0. Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-12 has a GWP of 8500; CFC-11 has a GWP of 5000;
hydrochlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons have GWPs ranging from
93 to 12,100; and water has a GWP of 0.
Greenhouse
effect
(a) The effect produced as greenhouse gases allow incoming solar radiation to
pass through the earth’s atmosphere, but prevent most of the outgoing infrared
radiation from the surface and lower atmosphere from escaping into outer
space. This process occurs naturally and has kept the earth’s temperature
about 60 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than it would otherwise be. Current life
on earth could not be sustained without the natural greenhouse effect.
(b) Trapping and buildup of heat in the atmosphere (troposphere) near the
earth’s surface. Some of the heat flowing back toward space from the earth’s
surface is absorbed by water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, and several other
gases in the atmosphere and then reradiated back toward the earth’s surface. If
the atmospheric concentrations of these greenhouse gases rise, the average
temperature of the lower atmosphere will gradually increase.
Greenhouse gas
(GHG)
(a) Any gas that absorbs infrared radiation in the atmosphere. Greenhouse
gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), nitrous
oxide (N 2 O), halogenated fluorocarbons (HCFCs), ozone (O 3 ), perfluorinated
carbons (PFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), water vapor and sulfur
hexafluoride. (b) Gases that absorb heat in the atmosphere near the earth’s
surface, preventing it from escaping into space. If the atmospheric concentrations of these gases rise, the average temperature of the lower atmosphere will
gradually increase, a phenomenon known as the greenhouse effect.
Habitat
The place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives
and grows.
Hydrobromofluorocarbon
(HBFC)
An ozone-depleting substance consisting of hydrogen, bromine, fluorine, and
carbon.
Hydrocarbon
(HC)
A compound consisting of carbon and hydrogen. Hydrocarbons include
methane, ethane, propane, cyclopropane, butane, and cyclopentane. Although
they are flammable, hydrocarbons (HCs) may offer advantages as substitutes
to ozone-depleting substances because they have zero ozone depletion potential, low toxicity, and, with the exception of methane, low global warming
potentials. Fossil fuels are made up of hydrocarbons.
Hydrochlorofluorocarbon
(HCFC)
A compound consisting of hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon.
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are one class of chemicals that was
used to replace the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). They contain chlorine and
thus deplete stratospheric ozone, but to a much lesser extent than CFCs.
HCFCs have ozone depletion potentials (ODPs) ranging from 0.01 to 0.1. In
conclusion, although ozone-depleting substances, they are less potent at
destroying stratospheric ozone than chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). They have
been introduced as temporary replacements for CFCs and are also greenhouse
gases. Production of HCFCs is being phased out.
Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)
A compound consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are a class of replacements for chlorofluorocarbons. Because they do not contain chlorine or bromine, they do not deplete the
ozone layer. All HFCs have an ozone depletion potential of 0. Some HFCs
have high global warming potentials. In conclusion, they were introduced as
alternatives to ozone-depleting substances in serving many industrial, commercial, and personal needs. HFCs are emitted as by-products of industrial
1 Effect of Global Warming and Climate Change on Glaciers and Salmons
29
ratio of the warming caused by a substance to the warming caused by a similar
mass of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). Thus, the GWP of CO 2 is 1.0. Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-12 has a GWP of 8500; CFC-11 has a GWP of 5000;
hydrochlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons have GWPs ranging from
93 to 12,100; and water has a GWP of 0.
Greenhouse
effect
(a) The effect produced as greenhouse gases allow incoming solar radiation to
pass through the earth’s atmosphere, but prevent most of the outgoing infrared
radiation from the surface and lower atmosphere from escaping into outer
space. This process occurs naturally and has kept the earth’s temperature
about 60 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than it would otherwise be. Current life
on earth could not be sustained without the natural greenhouse effect.
(b) Trapping and buildup of heat in the atmosphere (troposphere) near the
earth’s surface. Some of the heat flowing back toward space from the earth’s
surface is absorbed by water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, and several other
gases in the atmosphere and then reradiated back toward the earth’s surface. If
the atmospheric concentrations of these greenhouse gases rise, the average
temperature of the lower atmosphere will gradually increase.
Greenhouse gas
(GHG)
(a) Any gas that absorbs infrared radiation in the atmosphere. Greenhouse
gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), nitrous
oxide (N 2 O), halogenated fluorocarbons (HCFCs), ozone (O 3 ), perfluorinated
carbons (PFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), water vapor and sulfur
hexafluoride. (b) Gases that absorb heat in the atmosphere near the earth’s
surface, preventing it from escaping into space. If the atmospheric concentrations of these gases rise, the average temperature of the lower atmosphere will
gradually increase, a phenomenon known as the greenhouse effect.
Habitat
The place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives
and grows.
Hydrobromofluorocarbon
(HBFC)
An ozone-depleting substance consisting of hydrogen, bromine, fluorine, and
carbon.
Hydrocarbon
(HC)
A compound consisting of carbon and hydrogen. Hydrocarbons include
methane, ethane, propane, cyclopropane, butane, and cyclopentane. Although
they are flammable, hydrocarbons (HCs) may offer advantages as substitutes
to ozone-depleting substances because they have zero ozone depletion potential, low toxicity, and, with the exception of methane, low global warming
potentials. Fossil fuels are made up of hydrocarbons.
Hydrochlorofluorocarbon
(HCFC)
A compound consisting of hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon.
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are one class of chemicals that was
used to replace the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). They contain chlorine and
thus deplete stratospheric ozone, but to a much lesser extent than CFCs.
HCFCs have ozone depletion potentials (ODPs) ranging from 0.01 to 0.1. In
conclusion, although ozone-depleting substances, they are less potent at
destroying stratospheric ozone than chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). They have
been introduced as temporary replacements for CFCs and are also greenhouse
gases. Production of HCFCs is being phased out.
Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)
A compound consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are a class of replacements for chlorofluorocarbons. Because they do not contain chlorine or bromine, they do not deplete the
ozone layer. All HFCs have an ozone depletion potential of 0. Some HFCs
have high global warming potentials. In conclusion, they were introduced as
alternatives to ozone-depleting substances in serving many industrial, commercial, and personal needs. HFCs are emitted as by-products of industrial
1 Effect of Global Warming and Climate Change on Glaciers and Salmons
29