greenhouse effects
Atmospheric heat trapping
The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat from the sun, warming the planet's surface.
These gases—primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor—act like the glass panels of a greenhouse, allowing sunlight in but preventing heat from escaping back into space.
Without this natural phenomenon, Earth would be too cold to support most life.
The term now frequently appears in discussions of climate change, where human activities have intensified the effect by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
- thermal blanketHeat-conserving emergency cover
- chlorofluorocarbonsOzone-depleting synthetic compounds
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
- rising temperaturesIncreasing heat levels
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
tipping point · fossil fuels · emissions · carbon dioxide · infrared radiation · water vapor · sea level rise · melting ice caps · weather extremes · extreme weather · methane · carbon neutral · net zero · temperature fluctuations · feedback loops · solar radiation · cryosphere · thawing permafrost
greenhouse effectsglobal cooling
Theorized planetary temperature decrease
nuclear winter · heat dissipation · glaciation · volcanic winter · heat loss
greenhouse effectscarbon sequestration
Removing and storing atmospheric CO2
carbon capture · afforestation · decarbonization · climate mitigation · emissions reduction
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