The source of the Melting Glaciers

I/ The source of the Melting Glaciers

a) Methane Emission (CH4)

Oil and gas extraction processes also emit methane, the main constituent of natural gas. Methane is also more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide whose global warming power remains at 1 where that of methane climbs to 25. In equal quantities, methane is therefore more powerful in the greenhouse effect than CO2. But there are not as many methane emissions as there are carbon dioxide emissions.

b) CO2 concentration

The emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) is mainly due to the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. When these fuels are burned for energy, the carbon they contain reacts with the oxygen in the air to form carbon dioxide. Human activities such as electricity generation, transport, industry, and agriculture are the main sources of CO2 emissions. CO2 is a greenhouse gas, which means it contributes to global warming by trapping heat in the earth's atmosphere.

c) Earth’s energy balance

Earth's energy balance is the difference between the solar energy that reaches the Earth and the energy that is reflected into space. If this balance is positive, it means that the Earth absorbs more energy than it returns, which can lead to global warming.

Global warming is caused by the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen dioxide, trap heat in the atmosphere and prevent some of the solar energy reflected from Earth from escaping into space. This leads to an imbalance in the Earth's energy balance, which results in an increase in the planet's average temperature.

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