Greenhouse effect: The greenhouse effect is a process by which thermal radiation from a planetary surface is absorbed by atmospheric greenhouse

gases, and is re-radiated in all directions. Since part of this re-radiation is back towards the surface, energy is transferred to the surface and the lower atmosphere. As a result, the average surface temperature is higher than it would be if direct heating by solar radiation were the only warming mechanism. Solar radiation at the high frequencies of visible light passes through the atmosphere to warm the planetary surface, which then emits this energy at the lower frequencies of infrared thermal radiation. Infrared radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases, which in turn re-radiate much of the energy to the surface and lower atmosphere. The mechanism is named after the effect of solar radiation passing through glass and warming a greenhouse, but the way it retains heat is fundamentally different as a greenhouse works by reducing airflow, isolating the warm air inside the structure so that heat is not lost by convection. How Do Humans Contribute to the Greenhouse Effect?: While the greenhouse effect is an essential environmental prerequisite for life on Earth, there really can be too much of a good thing.The problems begin when human activities distort and accelerate the natural process by creating more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere than are necessary to warm the planet to an ideal temperature.1. Burning natural gas, coal and oil -including gasoline for automobile engines-raises the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 2. Some farming practices and land-use changes increase the levels of methane and nitrous oxide. 3. Many factories produce long-lasting industrial gases that do not occur naturally, yet contribute significantly to the enhanced greenhouse effect and "global warming" that is currently under way. 4. Deforestation also contributes to global warming. Trees use carbon dioxide and give off oxygen in its place, which helps to create the optimal balance of gases in the atmosphere. As more forests are logged for timber or cut down to make way for farming, however, there are fewer trees to perform this critical function.5. Population growth is another factor in global warming, because as more people use fossil fuels for heat, transportation and manufacturing the level of greenhouse gases continues to increase. As more farming occurs to feed millions of new people, more greenhouse gases enter the atmosphere.

Overpopulation: Overpopulation is a generally undesirable condition where an organism's numbers exceed the carrying capacity of its habitat. The term often refers to the relationship between the human population and its environment, the Earth, or smaller geographical areas such as countries. Overpopulation can result from an increase in births, a decline in mortality rates, an increase in immigration, or an unsustainable biome and depletion of resources. It is possible for very sparsely populated areas to be overpopulated if the area has a meager or non-existent capability to sustain life (e.g. a desert). Prices of gasoline are high because the demand has exceeded the natural resources. Prices of fish are high because 90% of the big fish are gone. The earth is polluted with plastics, in part because of shortage of natural materials. Rivers and bays are polluted because of high level of population and industrialization. Electric energy is insufficient because traditional sources of energy are limited. Wild animals are disappearing because of over-hunting and environmental destruction. Predators have disappeared because of insufficient wilderness and clashes with too many people. Natural flora is being wiped out to make place for cash crops to feed the hungry humans. Governments are regulating hunting, fishing, and recreation because of too many people. Property taxes have increased dramatically because of a lack of suitable land. Cost of living is very high because of short supply of food, energy, and shelter. Noise pollution and light pollution are so high that they disrupt normal biorhythm. Even the most pristine parts of the world have man-polluted air, soil, and water. Automobile traffic is slow and causes air pollution because of too many cars and people.

What is Water Pollution?: Water pollution is the presence in water bodies (including surface water and groundwater) of toxic chemicals and/or biological agents that exceed what is naturally found in water and may pose a threat to human health and/or the environment. Additionally, water pollution may include chemicals exclusively introduced into the water bodies due to human activities, in which case any amount of those chemicals detected in water denotes pollution, regardless of the harm they may pose to human health and the environment How does Water Pollution Affect Us?: Water pollution is a serious problem for human health. This is because we may get exposed to polluted water in various ways, including, but not necessarily limited to: Drinking the polluted water Bathing or showering with the polluted water Swimming in the polluted water Breathing the vapors of a polluted water while sitting next to a polluted water source Consuming polluted food (meat and/or vegetables) affected by polluted water Consuming meat from animals fed with affected food (e.g., vegetables irrigated with polluted water or grown in an area with polluted groundwater) WATER POLLUTION CAUSES: Agriculture runoff - carrying fertilizers, pesticides/insecticides/herbicides and other pollutants into water bodies such as lakes, rivers, ponds). The usual effect of this type of pollution consists in algae growing in affected water bodies. This is a sign of increased nitrates and phosphates in water that could be harmful for human health. Storm water runoff carrying various oils, petroleum products and other contaminants from urban and rural areas (ditches). These usually forms sheens on the water surface. Leaking sewer lines may add trihalomethanes (such as chloroform) as well as other contaminants into groundwater ending up contaminating surface water, too.

Discharges of chlorinated solvents from Dry Cleaners to sewer lines are also a recognized source of water pollution with these persistent and harmful solvents.