Greenhouse is primarily a man-made technique to grow vegetables, flowers and other type of plants under regulated conditions. But the principle of greenhouse is based on the Earths natural greenhouse effect that helps in maintaining the temperature and various other natural processes to support the life on the planet.
In the Earths atmosphere the water vapour, carbon-di oxide, methane, and other gases act as barrier for the Suns radiations that reflect back after striking on the Earths surface and also for the Earths geothermal energy. As a result, the heat energy trapped in the atmospheric blanket of the Earth causes warming of the air and distribution of temperature across the globe which is supporting life on the Earth.
The natural greenhouse is getting severe due to anthropogenic release of Carbon-di-oxide, methane, compounds of sulfur, chlorofluorocarbons, ozone in the lower atmosphere etc that is augmenting the trapping of heat in the Earths atmosphere. One can make a small greenhouse to observe its inside environment and understand the greenhouse effect. Even a small greenhouse made of transparent material sheets will demonstrate the temperature differences if kept in sun or even under the shade.
â— Few small rods of metal or wood or a stiff material,
â— Transparent material sheets,
â— Thermometer etc.
We can make a small greenhouse by assembling few rods in the form of frame of a house and covering its sides (walls) and top by a transparent cover. A small opening in the greenhouse is kept to place the objects inside it or remove from it.
1- Assemble the greenhouse,
2- Place the greenhouse at an open place where sunlight reaches.
3- Place some seeds and small saplings of plants in the greenhouse as well as place similar types of seeds and samplings outside of it in the ambient environment.
4- A thermometer is fixed inside the greenhouse to monitor inner temperature. Another similar thermometer is placed outside to monitor temperature of the outside area where seeds and saplings are placed.
5- The seeds and saplings placed inside the greenhouse as well as those placed outside are monitored daily for tracking their germination & growth for a week.
6- The observations on seeds and saplings along with the temperature records when compared give us idea of the conditions inside the greenhouse that differ from the conditions of ambient environment and the effect on seeds and saplings.
7- Just like the large greenhouses this small greenhouse will also have difference in temperature, humidity etc in comparison of the ambient environment.
8- We can also compare difference in greenhouse conditions by placing our small greenhouse at different locations.
The record of changes observed in temperature, germination of seeds, growth of saplings etc inside the greenhouse and outside as well is kept on daily basis for a week.
This provides useful data related to the difference in the inner temperature and outside temperature and its effect on the seeds and saplings kept in both mediums.
One can even feel the difference in the humidity and temperature inside the greenhouse by simply putting her/his hand inside it. This procedure also can be done under various conditions like in the open sun, under tree shade, under a building’s shade, in a garden, on the road, on the rocky surface etc. Under every condition the inner temperature and humidity of the greenhouse will differ from the outside ambient environment.
The observations and data can be presented through qualitative and quantitative interpretations.
â— Green house is a man-made technique that is based on the Earth’s natural greenhouse system.
â— Earth’s natural greenhouse supports the life forms on the Earth.
â— Anthropogenic greenhouse is harmful to the life forms on the Earth.
â— Atmospheric water vapour, gases and aerosols etc greenhouse factors are good for the Earth when they are within the natural balance, however they become harmful if augmented, altered or disturbed by the anthropogenic factors.
â— One can make greenhouses of different shapes, sizes and material and can understand the principle of greenhouse through experiment.
What would happen if you change the transparent covering of your greenhouse with opaque or non-transparent covering?
