During the World War II, massive emission of gases was experienced because there were missiles and other movable machines like vehicles and aircrafts which used fuels in their movement. The missiles and bombs on the other hand, when they exploded, created or produced gases that reacted with others to produce more complex gases which in return filled the atmosphere. In the process of these movements and bombing, gases that were being emitted included carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons. These formed a layer of un-recycled gases that enveloped the atmosphere. This is because the gas could not be converted by plants since it was emitted in a higher quantity therefore allowing several gases to react with one another. Some of the gases introduced in the atmosphere contained those that that are transparent to sunlight therefore absorbing radiations in the infrared range, others were blocking out-ward radiation and in the process warming the atmosphere. The overall effect in the explosion of the bombs during the war was severely felt in the atmosphere a factor that affected the ozone layer.
The earth is always bathed in sunlight therefore when there is sunlight; the gases reflect back some heat while others absorb heat in to the earth. During the absorption, most of the gases did not allow heat radiated in to escape in to the outer space therefore the absorption did not match the radiation back into space this resulted to the earth getting warmer and warmer until the intensity of that thermal radiation matched the absorbed incoming sunlight In the process of this warming up, the atmosphere warmed up higher enough to intensify the thermal radiation so that it creates a match with the absorbed incoming sunlight. When this happened equilibrium was reached at a higher temperature therefore leads to global warming. In conclusion the impact of the World War II contributed to global warming a factor that can even be felt to date.
References
- Fight green house gas emissions global climate fund: energy alternatives
- The conference board Press Release / News Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Depends Critically on Productivity Sept. 9, 2008