Lord Thompson Manor Wedding Occasions

When people see a Bride on her Big Day, they tend to notice two things right away: her brilliant smile and her elegant dress.  At the Lord Thompson Manor, we know that a Bride’s Wedding Day look doesn’t stop there.  We’re always happy to help our Brides decide exactly what to wear, and we’ve got a list of possible head-to-foot additions they may want to consider.

Many Brides continue the tradition of a Wedding Veil, but some opt for a few crowning sparkles.  Beautifully crafted hair accessories might include flowers or jewels, and nothing can make a Bride feel more like a princess than a head wrap or tiara.

It is important for a Bride to find balance between earrings and necklace, if she chooses to wear both.  Both of these accessories can be small, subtle decorations for the Bride’s ensemble; or, one can be a large, glamorous feature, accented by the other.

A Bride’s arms can be perfectly elegant bare, or with only the sleeves of her well-chosen gown.  However, she might also add warmth or a different look with a shawl or wrap that matches or complements her dress.  A Bride might also elect to wear gloves—the Lord Thompson Manor recommends fingerless or gauntlet-style, to make the wedding rings easier to manage—bracelets, or a beautiful antique watch.

Finally, a Bride’s shoes are a crucial part of her Wedding Ensemble.  A Bride can choose heels or flats; open or closed toes; white, patterned or metallic—her choices are virtually limitless.  Many Brides have recently been embracing the new trend of red shoes, and some even choose other bright, bold colors.  The Lord Thompson Manor is ready to accommodate all choices by setting our Brides up with our Keep It Simple Spa pedicures the day before the wedding, and keeping comfortable flip flops around if ever they want to give their feet a rest.

At the Lord Thompson Manor, we help our Brides plan and coordinate every aspect of their Weddings and Wedding Receptions.  We want every moment of a Bride’s Big Day to be perfect, and nothing can set the tone to an elegant Ceremony and a fun Reception like live music.

Live music is crucial to a perfectly timed Wedding.  Whether a Bride and Groom opt for classical music or contemporary, the Lord Thompson Manor can provide contacts to a number of different bands and assist the happy couple in deciding which is ideal for their Ceremony.  With live music, a human being is in charge of matching the tempo and specific cues to the pacing and timing of the Ceremony itself; that way, nothing moves too quickly or too slowly, and every moment occurs when planned.  This is especially important in the unfortunate case of a mishap—no one wants to trip when walking down the aisle, especially when they can throw off the timing of a Ceremony set to recorded music, but live music can help recover the moment and keep the Ceremony going as planned.

At the Lord Thompson Manor, we even like to carry the romantic, elegant tone of the Ceremony through the following cocktail hour by having the same band play until it is time for dinner.  During dinner, music takes a back seat to conversation as the next band quietly plays a CD.

Then, the Wedding Reception launches into full celebration.  A live band gives a personal, intimate feel for the Bride and Groom’s first dance as a married couple, and also enhances both the Bride’s dance with her Father and the Groom’s dance with his Mother.  Afterwards, nothing can match the personality and energy a live band brings to the dance floor, as they perform specifically for the Bride, Groom and guests.  With live music, every Wedding Reception is as unique as its Newlyweds.

Situated on 40 tranquil acres in Northeastern Connecticut, Lord Thompson Manor is centrally located in New England, just one hour west of Boston, 40 minutes west of Providence, and one hour north of Hartford. The Lord Thompson Manor’s elegant 30 room estate provides Brides and Grooms with an exquisite all-encompassing Weekend Wedding experience. Here, family, friends and guests create lasting memories as they convene in one place over the course of a weekend to enjoy Rehearsal Dinners, Spa, Receptions, After Parties, Brunches, and much more in a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere. Our luxurious accommodations and outstanding service bring romantic individuality to every wedding to ensure the perfect Wedding Weekend.

Lord Thompson Manor offers six stately guest rooms—three of which are luxury suites, each with a fireplace and private bath—as well as six inviting cottage rooms at our sister property, The Cottage House, well-situated just two miles down the road. During their stay, guests may enjoy relaxing massages and treatments, among other services offered at our on-site spa. Comfortable and convenient, the accommodations at Lord Thompson Manor and The Cottage House help to create a seamless weekend.

Lord Thompson Manor is particularly distinguished among wedding facilities by the careful attention our professional staff gives to every detail of our guests’ three-day stay here. From elaborate floral arrangements to exquisite cakes to romantic candlelit evenings, each element of a Wedding Weekend is uniquely tailored to the Bride’s & Groom’s particular needs. In addition to providing a diverse variety of gourmet menu options—prepared from scratch and cooked fresh on the premises by our James Beard Foundation Celebrated Chefs—Lord Thompson Manor provides full Wedding coordination services, including directing Brides & Grooms to the elite of New England’s Musicians and Bands, Photographers and Videographers, Florists, Cake Bakers, Limousine Services and more. Book your wedding at Lord Thompson Manor and experience an extraordinary weekend that you and your guests will fondly remember for years to come.

Route 200,  PO Box 428 Thompson, Connecticut 06277
Telephone (860) 923-3886 Fax (860) 923-9310  

 email  mail@lordthompsonmanor.com

Planning a monumental occasion is a monumental amount of work.  Wedding guests get it easy—sit, stand, toast, eat, dance and enjoy, with optional tears of unbridled happiness.  Everyone else has a more complicated job, and the Lord Thompson Manor knows that the centerpiece of every wedding is also its biggest hero: the bride.  She’s got thousands of details to think up and cover, and despite her best-laid plan, the help of her mother, maid of honor and wedding planner, and the years of professional experience in perfect weddings we have offer, some minute uncontrollable force can add a little turbulence to the otherwise clear voyage towards marital bliss.  The Lord Thompson Manor offers three tips to prepare for trouble and ward off stressors.

1.  Consider your guests’ needs while planning.  Between you, your groom and your immediate families, you probably know all the guests well enough to take food allergies and limited mobility into account well before the wedding day.  Communicate these needs to your venue, and together, you can take care of it.  For example, the Lord Thompson Manor staff is always aware of which place setting requires a vegetarian meal, which plates can’t touch sea food and how many lactose intolerant guests are in attendance.  Keeping the safety and comfort of your guests in mind can help the wedding and reception flow smoothly from start to finish.

2.  Create a contingency plan for uncontrollable circumstances.  If you plan an outdoor wedding and there is a chance of rain, have a nearby Plan B and take into account budget, decorations and transportation.  Keep a number of safety pins nearby, in the unlikely but tragic event of a damaged suit or dress.  Have a second, more familiar, comfortable pair of shoes to change into for the reception, just in case your feet hurt.  The Lord Thompson Manor is always prepared with quick, viable fixes for these and other little potential hiccups in the plan.

3.  Put your plan in competent hands.  Your job as wedding micromanager should be done by the rehearsal dinner, so you can kick back and enjoy being a bride.  You’ve planned the reception, procured the dresses, written your vows, and performed countless other gigantic tasks; your wedding day is not the time to sweat the small stuff.  A bride who loses sight of the big picture runs the risk of damaging it.  The Lord Thompson Manor’s experienced wedding coordinator is at our every bride’s service, handling all their potential wedding day stressors for them.  As a result, we are privileged to see our brides relaxed and smiling from start to finish.

Author Deanna Cassidy

Lord Thompson Manor

Global Warming Issues Are in your Hands

Lord Thompson Manor Global Warming Issues Author: Amelie Mag

There has been a lot of talk on the subject of global warming. Specialists believe that human activities in the past 50 years have given a negative boost to climate change. After a long series of tests and chart observations, it seems that the primary culprit for global warming is the emission of greenhouse gases (mainly carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide). These gases have altered the composition of the atmosphere and raised the planet’s temperature with almost 1?C since 1950.

The problem is not that these gases exist. They have always been in the atmosphere, but there is a major increase in their concentration. The planet started to heat up and the climate change appeared simultaneously with the beginning of industrial revolution. Then, at the start of a new era, the concentrations of carbon dioxide increased with nearly 30%, methane almost doubled and nitrous oxide with 15% making global warming a serious, even deadly matter.

These figures are truly concerning due to the fact that we rely on fossil fuels to drive, to heat and to power factories not thinking of the harsh reality: burned fossil fuels are the main reason for the rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leading to global warming and accelerating the rate of climate change.

Still, the combustion of fuel is not the only one to blame for global warming. Researchers consider that the development of agriculture, deforestation, landfills, industrial production and mining are also to blame. Each one of them has ‘helped’ induce large, global, abrupt climate change leading to a warmer planet, making it more difficult for us to live.

The statistics in climate change are frightening. Almost 98% of the greenhouses emissions are due to pollution and it is no surprise that the most powerful and rich country (U.S) on the continent is mainly responsible for global warming. 1998 has been declared the warmest year on record and scientistists are concerned that the snow cover in northern hemisphere and floating ice in the Arctic Ocean have decreased. Do we really pay enough attention to the climate change and do we want the planet to become too warm for us to live in?

We are all threathened by this sudden climate change. Global warming is not a joke and we should start paying more attention to it. Not only wildlife, forests and coastal areas are vulnerable to the climate change that the greenhouse gas may bring, but also water resources, animals and most important our health.

What should we expect from global warming? First of all, a change that will have a major impact on the way we live will be a warmer weather. Climate change will appear in the form of increased precipations worldwide, with acid rainfalls that will damage the natural habitat, with more frequent and intense storms that will build up and result in powerful hurricanes. And this is just the top of the ‘iceberg’ called global warming. The hurricanes will be stronger than usual with greater devastating powers.

The population of the globe should be taught more about these greenhouse gases that are held responsible for climate change and more specific, global warming. Carbon dioxide is realeased into the atmosphere when wood, fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) and solid waste are burned. Methane is emitted during the production and transport of oil, gas and coal, but it also results from decomposition of solid, organic waste. Nitrous oxide is the product of: agricultural and industrial activities, combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste. So, do we still have to wonder why these greenhouse gases have such a strong impact on climate change?

Unfortunately, there are not many options to reduce the effects of global warming. Lately, in order to predict climate change, specialists have put up what is called an emission inventory which registers the quantity of air pollutants in the atmosphere. It also establishes the identity of the polluting agent (chemical/physical), the geographic area covered, the time period over which emissions are appreciated and the type of activities that cause the emissions. This way, the scientific community is making an effort to reduce the serious consequences of global warming.

Another solution for the problem of global warming is recycling. It started years ago in powerful and well developed states and it is a novelty for poor, undergoing tranzition states that are struggling to survive. But, slowly, people all over the world are learning about the strong effects of recycling newspapers, plastic, glass, metal. It is a healthy action that makes the world a better place. By recycling, we not only help ourselves, but also the forests, crop yields and water supplies which are severely affected by climate change. We also keep in mind the animals and the ecosystems – another sector badly damaged by climate change. We make the difference.

Global warming affects everybody. That is why we must fight against our self destruction and life’s in general. Fight for your planet, don’t let the climate change affect the environment in an irrecoverable manner, keep in mind that Earth’s eco systems are sensitive and must be treated with care, and you will have a future!

Facts About Global Warming you Should Know

Lord Thompson Manor Facts About Global Warming Author: Nathalie Fiset

Global warming is not a 20th century phenomenon. It has, in fact, occurred in the past more than once, along with periods of extreme cold known as the ice ages. With so much written and reported about global warming, sometimes it’s difficult to detect which is fact and which is just part of scientific scare tactics. Here are some facts about global warming that might help:

What exactly is global warming?
Global warming is basically the increase in the temperatures of the Earth’s atmosphere, land masses and oceans. The Earth’s surface temperature is at an average of 59F and over the last hundred years, this figure has risen to about 1F. By the year 2100, the average change in the temperature of the Earth could range from 2.5F to about 10F, enough to melt glaciers and polar ice caps.

The cause of global warming
Global warming has and will always occur naturally. Why it has become such a concern in our lifetime is due to the fact that human activities and practices have contributed significantly to its occurrence and severity. With the advent of industrialization and careless environmental practices, we have caused the increase in the average global temperatures by contributing negatively to the greenhouse effect.

This began about 240 years ago, when the Industrial Revolution was born. As more and more fossil fuels in the form of oil were mined and burned, gases as the by-product of that process began to be released in the atmosphere. Currently, it is estimated that 75% of the increase in the carbon dioxide content of the Earth’s atmosphere is caused by the burning of these fossil fuels.

Global warming and the greenhouse effect
Global warming is related to changes in the Earth’s greenhouse effect. Gases naturally occur in the Earth’s atmosphere and act both to protect and retain heat. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapor. Of these, water vapor is the most dominant and abundant greenhouse gas.

Global warming and the greenhouse effect are not the same thing. The greenhouse effect refers to a natural process that occurs in the Earth’s atmosphere. If this process is disrupted, then it could contribute to global warming.

As the sun’s rays hit the Earth, heat is bounced back to the atmosphere where these gases contain the heat and keep it there to warm the planet. This is an important natural process and allows life forms to flourish and survive. Problems only occur when these gases multiply and build-up, containing heat too efficiently and thus warming the Earth’s atmosphere.

As the Earth’s average temperature rises, effects in its landmasses and sea water level become apparent. Polar ice caps melt along with glaciers, contributing to higher and warmer sea levels. By the end of the century, it is estimated that sea levels can increase from 4 inches to a high of about 40 inches if global warming continues unabated.

Global warming can also affect the behavior of the winds and can also contribute to a harsher and drier climate, with frequent visitings of strong hurricanes. Water from heavier rainfall will not stay long to irrigate the land, however because with a warmer climate, water on the Earth’s surface will evaporate quickly. This has a significant effect on agricultural practices not only in the US but also for the rest of the world.

Another phenomenon that is equated with global warming is the El Nino. The El Nino phenomenon has occurred for possibly thousands of years and is not caused directly by global warming. However, changes in the average temperature of the planet can contribute to its severity and frequency.

Other human practices that contribute to global warming
The agricultural revolution has also contributed to global warming. As more and more communities need lands converted from forests to residential and commercial areas, biomass is reduced, contributing to the increase in the presence of carbon dioxide in those regions. Since carbon dioxide is processed by plants and trees, their absence contributes to its increase.

It is estimated that about 25% of the annual increase in the carbon dioxide found in the Earth’s atmosphere is caused by extreme changes and usage of the Earth’s natural resources. Other practices also include deforestation, salinization, desertification and overgrazing also contribute to global warming. However, many scientists surmise and agree that the contribution is slight and indirect.

Facing the facts of global warming
Countries all over the world have just begun to acknowledge the negative effects of global warming not only to the world’s politics and economy but also to humankind in general. Many of the world’s governments have encouraged implementation of measures to try to counteract the problem of global warming through careful measures and practices designed to protect and respect the environment.

How these measures will fare and contribute to the long-term maintenance of our planet, though, remains to be seen.

Greenhouse Effect: A Lot of Old Gas?

By Dr. Mark Clayson

The world is ending anytime soon, or so the boffins would have us believe. Greenhouse effect, they say; polar ice caps will melt, drown us all, kill everything, in – um – 21xx something, give or take a few million years.

Come on, they’ve got it wrong before: the Titanic was unsinkable, the war will be over by Christmas, Thalidomide is good for us. We’ve heard it all before.

The evidence seems to be there: winters getting milder, summers longer, halcyon days of splendour and sunlight. Today, birds singing at 5am, outside my frost-laden window

Do we care though? The British Way of Strife is to demand warm weather; millions of us go abroad each year, to soak up those rays and come back as brown as toast. Ask any True Brit what he would like most of all, and he’ll say ‘Heat’

The world has evolved over millions of years, and we’ve only been recording the changes for a few hundred. We obviously made it through the Ice Age okay, and there wasn’t the same kerfuffle and sharp intake of breath as there is now. So here is my theory:

The earth is a complex planet. It’s survived over those millennia and still come out smiling. It will take care of things itself.

There’s another problem too: apathy. Most people demand the use of dirty cars, that spew out diesel and petrol fumes; cities demand heat, light, energy; we demand TV, dishwashers, fridges. All these things create undesirable effects in the atmosphere, but do we care?

Lord Thompson Manor Greenhouse Effect

Yesterday was Earth day.  I hope you all did your part.  Please enjoy this informative article by Dr.  Oswald J.  Eppers

placed by Lord Thompson Manor

Global Warming Scientists Dispute Man-made Greenhouse Effects

In February 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) stated in their Fourth Assessment Report that human actions are “very likely” (i.e. with 90% or greater probability) the cause of global warming,  indicated by an increase of 0.75 degrees in average global temperatures over the last 100 years. This statement is the result of very tough discussions on a worldwide scale between thousands of climate researchers whether human activity is the main cause of global warming. The results of this discussion were presented to the public in many publications, for instance in Martin Durkin´s documentary “The Great Global Warming Swindle”, presented in March 2007 at UK´s Channel 4. The main message of this production was that man-made global warming is “a lie” and “the biggest scam of modern times.” Martin Durkin and coworkers argue that the scientific consensus on climate change is the product of “a multibillion-dollar worldwide industry, created by fanatically anti-industrial environmentalists, supported by scientists peddling scare stories to chase funding and propped up by complicit politicians and the media”. The documentary showcases scientists, politicians, economists, writers, and others who are sceptical of the scientific consensus on anthropogenic (or man-made) global warming. Some of the scientists, opposing the main stream of greenhouse gas theories, simply argue that it has not yet been ascertained whether humans are the primary cause of global warming or if there are other natural variations responsible for this phenomenon like increased solar activity, cosmic rays or variations in natural climatic cycles. There is also a series of scientists questioning the temperature records used in the databases as temperature differences attributed to the greenhouse effect are reasonable small (fractions of a ºC). The so-called “urban heat island” effect leads to a local warming in more populated areas, showing slightly higher temperatures due to to increased heat generated by cities, rather than a global temperature rise. Anyhow, this argument was confuted by the IPPC, indicating that the effect of the urban heat island on the global temperature trend is no more than 0.05 °C (0.09 °F) degrees through 1990.Other facts presented by the film were shown to be incorrect or misinterpreted. The film asserts for instance that records of atmospheric CO2 levels since 1940 show a continuing increase, but during this period, global temperature decreased until 1975, and has increased since then. Anyhow, it is well recognized that this cooling was driven mostly by aerosols (i.e. pollution) in the atmosphere. There is nothing contradictory about this cooling when all sources of radiation changes are considered. A second argument that easily can be invalidated is the impact of the so-called “solar variation theory” on global warming. According to the authors, solar activity (and involving cosmic rays as well as heat from the sun aiding cloud formation) is currently at an extremely high level and directly linked to changes in global temperature. The film argues that solar activity is far more influential on global warming than any other anthropogenic or natural activity on Earth. What the film does not mention is that solar activity has declined over the last 30 years – at the same time as the major spike in global temperature.But there are some statements related to the influence of the oceanic mass and water vapour on climate change which are more difficult to confute. Water vapour makes up about 98% of the greenhouse gases by volume and provides something between 40 to 80 percent of the natural greenhouse effect. It probably has the largest impact on the planet’s temperature and climatic conditions, much larger than CO2. Water particles in the form of clouds act to reflect incoming solar heat, but the film argues that the effects of clouds cannot be accurately simulated by scientists attempting to predict future weather patterns and their effects on global warming. This argument probably is correct and it is well recognized that water vapor is responsible for the natural warming up of the surface temperature to approximately 30-35ºC. Anthropogenic greenhouse effect, according to the film’s argumentation, is only about 2% of the total “natural” greenhouse effect, which corresponds to a 0.6-0.7 ºC increase in temperature. This estimate is somewhat smaller compared to the results of much more sophisticated simulations (0.9 – 2.7ºC), but there is undoubtedly an anthropogenic effect of CO2 increasing the average surface temperature.

One example of the complexity of climatic simulations is the prediction of future storm events considering global warming effects. According to a recently published study, published online by research meteorologist Tom Knutson in the journal Nature Geoscience and resumed in the New York Times (May 18, 2008), global warming isn’t to blame for the recent jump in hurricanes in the Atlantic. The study predicts that by the end of the century the number of hurricanes in the Atlantic will fall by 18 percent. In the past, Knutson has raised concerns about the effects of climate change on storms. His new paper has the potential to heat up a simmering debate among meteorologists about current and future effects of global warming in the Atlantic. And Knutson is not alone with this view. Another group of experts, those who study hurricanes and who are more often skeptical about global warming, also say there is no link between global warming and hurricane frequency. They attribute the recent increase to a natural multi-decade cycle. According to the prediction, the number of hurricanes touching land in the US and its neighbors will drop by about 30 percent because of wind factors. However, the biggest storms, those with winds of more than 110 mph, would only decrease in frequency by 8 percent. The biggest decrease is forecasted for storms with winds between 39 and 73 mph (normal tropical storms), who would decrease by 27 percent.

It’s not all good news from Knutson’s study, however. His computer model also forecasts that “hurricanes and tropical storms will be wetter and fiercer. Rainfall within 30 miles of a hurricane should jump by 37 percent and wind strength should increase by about 2 percent”, Knutson’s study says.

There are already critical reactions on this new publication. MIT hurricane meteorologist Kerry Emanuel claims that the computer model used by Knutson is not adequate enough to look at storms and according to Kevin Trenberth, a climate scientist from the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., Knutson’s computer model is poor at assessing tropical weather and ”fail to replicate storms with any kind of fidelity.” It also does not considering well enough the intensity, duration and size of the storm events, as not only the number of hurricanes is important to evaluate.

Positive feedback comes from NOAA hurricane meteorologist Chris Landsea , who wasn’t part of this study, praised Knutson’s work as ”very consistent with what’s being said all along.” ”I think global warming is a big concern, but when it comes to hurricanes the evidence for changes is pretty darn tiny,” Landsea said.

Author:  Dr. Oswald J. Eppers

Submitted by Lord Thompson Manor

Global Warming submitted by Lord Thompson Manor

The Effect of Green House Gases

By Eleanor B. Jhonsons

Earth, the only planet in our solar system or as far as evidence indicates the only planet in the whole Universe that supports life, was not like as we see it now since its beginning. Earth has been able to give a safe home to life because of its unique place in the solar system; it’s neither too close to the Sun nor too far away. As Earth is situated away from the Sun preventing it from being a hell of a warm place, there was the possibility that it may have been freezing cold for life to form and flourish here. But thanks to the greenhouse gases present in Earth’s atmosphere that play their role in keeping it warm enough.

Greenhouse gases are those gases residing in Earth’s atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation and thus, keep Earth warmer. The ‘Greenhouse Effect’ is the natural process through which these atmospheric constituents absorb sunlight. Sun, the only star in our Solar System, emits light that reaches Earth’s atmosphere. The greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb the long wave radiation emitted by Sun which warms the atmosphere and these long wave radiations are emitted both upward and downward; the downward emission of radiation by atmosphere is called the ‘Greenhouse Effect’.

The greenhouse gases present in Earth’s atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and ozone. Water vapor is the most abundant gas and plays the lead role in warming earth causing 36-70% of ‘greenhouse effect’. Carbon dioxide contributes 9-26%, methane 4-9% while ozone’s share is about 3-7%. Some of the other greenhouse gases present in much smaller quantities are sulfur hexafluoride, hydro fluorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons, per fluorocarbons and nitrous oxide. Two of the major components of Earth’s atmosphere, oxygen and nitrogen are thankfully not greenhouse gases otherwise earth’s atmosphere would have been far warmer than it is now.

Although, these greenhouse gases have been playing a major role in providing life on Earth the perfect temperature to survive, since the Industrial Revolution human activities have caused increase in quantity of green house gases in the atmosphere. More greenhouse gases will trap more and more heat from Sun giving rise to the Global Warming phenomenon. Rising temperatures can be potentially hazardous to all kinds of life forms on Earth and a major cause for rapid melting of glaciers which in turn will cause sea level to rise submerging many coastlines worldwide. Although, environmentalists are forcing the issue and many Governments are taking steps in the right direction, it is not the greenhouse gases but human intervention in nature that is to be blamed.

Lord Thompson Manor Effects

Do You Know What The Greenhouse Effect Is?

By Kenneth Snodin

There has been much discussion, both among experts and lay people, about the ‘greenhouse effect.’ The greenhouse effect is a term that refers to changes in the Earth’s atmospheric composition, which have been related to the warming of our planet. There is a growing amount of evidence that human activities, particularly those relating to the burning of fossil fuels like oil and coal, are major contributors to the greenhouse effect. The predicted consequences for the planet as a result of the greenhouse effect are extremely serious. They include major changes in the climate that will have an impact on food production and rising sea levels, which will put many coastal and other low-lying communities under water.

Additional information that we have learned about the planet Venus provide a frightening example of the greenhouse effect. Venus has a very dense atmosphere made up of gases. The planet has what has been described as a ‘runaway greenhouse effect.’ It has surface temperature of about 800 degrees Fahrenheit.

Experts generally point to gases like carbon dioxide as the main contributors to the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide, which is a gas that is exhaled by everyone, can absorb infrared radiation. This type of radiation is heat that is radiating away from a warm object. During the day, the Earth is warmed by sunlight, and at night, the Earth cools off by radiating the heat back into space in the form of infrared radiation. Carbon dioxide, and other gases to some extent, absorb this radiation and limit its exit into space. Therefore, the natural cooling mechanism is thwarted.

While it may seem that eliminating the greenhouse effect would be the best strategy, this is not what we want to do. Water vapor represents another element in the heat-absorbing process. There is a great amount of water vapor in the atmosphere at all times. This is why we experience rain. We need the water vapor in the atmosphere to keep the Earth at its normal, comfortable temperature. Without the warmth created by water vapor, the planet would freeze, and that would be the end of life as we know it. Therefore, we need to have some degree of the ‘greenhouse effect’ in order to maintain life on Earth.

Lord Thompson Manor Greenhouse Effect