Natürlicher Treibhauseffekt – Folgen für Mensch und Umwelt?

The natural greenhouse effect ensures that the earth’s temperature is about +15°C, instead of cold -18°C, at a clearly local temperature – as we know it only becomes possible. The natural THE is in the mechanism identical to the man-made additional THE – the distinction of natural/anthropogenic refers to the source of the greenhouse gases involved. A simplified representation:

• the greenhouse gases (water vapor, CO2, methane and some others) which are naturally in the air, let sun rays pass from the sun to the ground.
• there the sun rays warm the ground
• the soil radiates this heat again. (Take your hand over a stone heated by the sun – this is directly noticeable)
• However, this heat radiation from the soil is not let through by the greenhouse gases, but is absorbed (absorbed) and radiated immediately. So the energy doesn’t get away so easily. =>natural greenhouse effect

This natural greenhouse effect ensures that on average, instead of cooling about -18°C (whether without the greenhouse gases) we have much more common about +15°C on Earth.

• In addition to the natural carbon cycle, humans now release additional greenhouse gases, e.g. by combustion of oil, coal and gas, carbon dioxide CO2, and e.g. by agriculture methane. => amplified, human-caused = anthropogenic greenhouse effect
• Feedback, e.g. by more water vapor in the air reinforces this heating
• also, for example, by land use, deforestation, soot, the warming of the soil is further reinforced.

This makes it warmer on average in the world. => Global warming.

• Global warming brings the weather patterns across the globe: => additional, accelerated, anthropogenic climate change.

As mentioned, a simplified representation – a more detailed representation, for example here: http://www.mpimet.mpg.de/fileadmin/grafik/presse/FAQs/BRPromet2802.pdf