Carbon Monoxide (Man-Made): Emitted by motor vehicles, airplanes, ships, and industrial processes where combustion is present.
Nitrogen Oxide (Man-Made): A contributor to the production of acid rain, it’s created from burning fossil fuels and industrial processes, both of which emit nitrogen dioxide as a byproduct. As this occurs, it then converts into nitric oxide and nitrous oxide in the air.
It's important to note that greenhouse gases are not necessarily a bad thing. The gases only become dangerous when they exceed other gases in proportion to their normal levels in the atmosphere.
What makes greenhouse gases one of the chief man-made causes of climate change is their increased output in relation to the growth of human civilization. For example, carbon dioxide exists in nature, but our atmosphere currently contains too much of it because of the burning of fossil fuels.
Climate Change Effects Climate change impacts our world in a wide variety of ways, including:
Weather: As weather patterns become unpredictable, it affects food production. Also, extreme weather conditions put people at significant risk of disease and injury.
Plants: As the weather becomes warmer and sea levels rise, plant life moves higher or further inland. This can result in problems for local animal life.
Wildlife: Changes in the environment cause changes in animal behavior. Many animals are affected by the lack of food sources and new predators that were previously unable to penetrate into their territories. Consequently, animals are forced into a position where they have to migrate or face extinction.
Businesses: Extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes and tornadoes can destroy vast amounts of property. As such, businesses suffer the losses that these tragedies bring.
Increasing Sea Levels: As polar ice caps melt, sea levels begin to rise. This can potentially displace millions of people worldwide as well as destroy various ecosystems and natural landmarks.
