greenhouse effect
Trapped heat phenomenon
The greenhouse effect is the warming of a planet's surface when atmospheric gases trap heat from the sun.
Solar radiation passes through the atmosphere, warms the ground, and radiates back as heat—but gases like carbon dioxide and methane absorb this outgoing energy rather than letting it escape to space.
Earth's natural greenhouse effect makes the planet habitable; the enhanced greenhouse effect from burning fossil fuels drives climate change.
Rising planetary temperatures
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- temperature riseIncrease in heat level
- sea level riseIncreasing ocean surface height
- glacial meltFrozen mass becoming water
heatwaves · extreme weather · ice caps · permafrost thaw · ocean acidification · coral bleaching · thermal expansion · droughts
Respiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- nitrous oxideAnesthetic inhalant causing euphoria
- water vaporH₂O in gaseous state
- CFCsOzone-depleting compounds, abbreviated
HFCs · ozone · CO2 · chlorofluorocarbons · sulfur hexafluoride · emissions · concentrations · parts per million
Combustible prehistoric organic deposits
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
- industrializationTransition to factory-based economy
- emissionsSubstances released into air
land use · urbanization · agriculture · transportation · coal · oil · natural gas · livestock
Electromagnetic waves below visible red
- heat retentionAbility to stay warm
- thermal energyMolecular kinetic activity
- energy balanceIntake versus expenditure ratio
- solar radiationEnergy emitted by sun
Computational atmospheric prediction systems
- carbon cycleBiogeochemical element circulation process
- IPCCUN climate science authority
- paleoclimatologyStudy of prehistoric climates
- ice coresCylindrical glacier samples
Self-replenishing natural power
- solar powerEnergy derived from sunlight
- wind energyElectricity from airflow
- carbon captureCollecting and storing emissions
- energy efficiencyMinimizing wasted power
reforestation · afforestation · carbon sink · sustainable development · emissions reduction · carbon neutrality · mitigation · adaptation
global warming
Rising planetary temperatures
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- temperature riseIncrease in heat level
- sea level riseIncreasing ocean surface height
glacial melt · heatwaves · extreme weather · ice caps · permafrost thaw · ocean acidification · coral bleaching · thermal expansion · droughts · flooding
carbon dioxide
Respiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- nitrous oxideAnesthetic inhalant causing euphoria
- water vaporH₂O in gaseous state
CFCs · HFCs · ozone · CO2 · chlorofluorocarbons · sulfur hexafluoride · emissions · concentrations · parts per million
fossil fuels
Combustible prehistoric organic deposits
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
- industrializationTransition to factory-based economy
emissions · land use · urbanization · agriculture · transportation · coal · oil · natural gas · livestock · rice paddies
infrared radiation
Electromagnetic waves below visible red
- heat retentionAbility to stay warm
- thermal energyMolecular kinetic activity
- energy balanceIntake versus expenditure ratio
solar radiation · insolation · albedo · feedback loops · absorption
climate models
Computational atmospheric prediction systems
- carbon cycleBiogeochemical element circulation process
- IPCCUN climate science authority
- paleoclimatologyStudy of prehistoric climates
renewable energy
Self-replenishing natural power
- solar powerEnergy derived from sunlight
- wind energyElectricity from airflow
- carbon captureCollecting and storing emissions
energy efficiency · reforestation · afforestation · carbon sink · sustainable development · emissions reduction · carbon neutrality · mitigation · adaptation · Paris Agreement
- environmentalismecology, conservationism, recycling bins, campaigner, environmentalism
- climate patternsEl Nino, La Nina, ice age, warming, cooling
- planetary atmospheresatmospheric layers, clouds, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon
- environmentair pollution, ecology, clean air, biosphere, air quality
- climateclimate change, climate, weather, global warming, temperature
- discoveriesbreakthrough, scientific discovery, finding, uncovering, detection
greenhouse effectglobal cooling
Theorized planetary temperature decrease
nuclear winter · cooling effect · heat dissipation · glaciation · ice age
effect, greenhouse, greenery, greenish, greenness, evergreen, greener, greening, greenest