Greenhouse Effect
The warming of Earth's surface caused by atmospheric gases trapping heat radiation.
Also: global warming mechanism
Definition
The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases in Earth's atmosphere—including water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide—absorb and re-emit infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface, thereby warming the lower atmosphere and surface. While a natural greenhouse effect maintains temperatures suitable for life, enhanced greenhouse warming from human-emitted greenhouse gases is driving global climate change.
Example
“Venus demonstrates an extreme greenhouse effect: despite being farther from the Sun than Mercury, its thick CO2 atmosphere traps so much heat that surface temperatures reach 465 degrees Celsius, hotter than Mercury's sun-facing side.”
Synonyms
- atmospheric warming
- thermal blanket effect
- radiative forcing
Antonyms / Opposites
- global cooling
Images
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Related Terms
- Climate Change
- Atmosphere
- Carbon Dioxide
- Global Warming