GREENHOUSE EFFECT/ greenhouse gases & global warming: computer illustration by Russell Kightley Media

(above) greenhouse gases image #2: picture showing molecules of water (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) against an icy looking background. This image is 500 pixels across, the original image is 2048 pixels across and lacks all labels.

KEY:

red spheres = oxygen (O) atoms drawn at approximately their covalent radius
green spheres = hydrogen (H) atoms drawn at approximately their covalent radius
grey spheres = carbon (C) atoms drawn at approximately their covalent radius
bright blue surrounding bubble = "surface" of the WATER molecules
bright yellow surrounding bubble = "surface" of the METHANE molecules
bright purple surrounding bubble = "surface" of the CARBON DIOXIDE molecules

EXPLANATION OF GREENHOUSE (GLOBAL WARMING) IMAGES: Greenhouse gases allow in the inward passage of high energy rays from the sun but they absorb the lower energy infrared radiation that is then emitted from the warmed Earth. This is analogous to the way a greenhouse (or glasshouse) warms up (the glass allows in the suns rays but then traps the heat inside). These gases are important to keep the Earth at a reasonable temperature but the concern is that the amount of some of them (notably CO₂ and CH₄) is increasing and that this will lead to an increase in the Earth's temperature with consequent climatic changes. Predicting what will happen requires complex computer modelling but the scientific consensus seems to be that we are warming up.

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GLOBAL WARMING POSTERS
Striking greenhouse gas molecules. Great for schools, colleges and environmental groups.

LINKS TO MAJOR GREENHOUSE GAS MOLECULAR IMAGES:

GREENHOUSE EFFECT: greenhouse gases, global warming or climate change graphics

GLOBAL WARMING: greenhouse gases & climate change graphics: methane CH₄, carbon dioxide CO₂, and water molecules H₂O, in the atmosphere

(above) greenhouse gases image #2: picture showing molecules of water (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) against an icy looking background. This image is 500 pixels across, the original image is 2048 pixels across and lacks all labels.

GREENHOUSE EFFECT: greenhouse gases, global warming or climate change graphics

GLOBAL WARMING: greenhouse gases & climate change graphics: methane CH4, carbon dioxide CO2, and water molecules H2O, in the atmosphere

(above) greenhouse gases image #2: picture showing molecules of water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) against an icy looking background. This image is 500 pixels across, the original image is 2048 pixels across and lacks all labels.

GLOBAL WARMING: greenhouse gases & climate change graphics: methane CH₄, carbon dioxide CO₂, and water molecules H₂O, in the atmosphere

(above) greenhouse gases image #2: picture showing molecules of water (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) against an icy looking background. This image is 500 pixels across, the original image is 2048 pixels across and lacks all labels.