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Greenhouse Effect

✨ Earth's Invisible Blanket

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that helps keep Earth warm enough for life. Sunlight passes through the atmosphere and heats the planet's surface. The warmed ground and oceans then release part of this energy as infrared radiation, which is a form of heat. Certain gases in the atmosphere, including water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, absorb some of this outgoing heat and emit it in all directions.

As a result, part of the heat remains trapped in the lower atmosphere instead of escaping directly into space. Without this natural greenhouse effect, Earth's average surface temperature would be around -18°C instead of about 15°C, making most current forms of life impossible. Human activities have strengthened the greenhouse effect since the Industrial Revolution by increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Burning coal, oil and natural gas, clearing forests and some agricultural practices all contribute to these rising levels. The enhanced greenhouse effect causes the planet to retain more heat than before, leading to global warming and long-term climate change. Its consequences include higher average temperatures, more frequent heatwaves, changes in rainfall patterns, melting glaciers and ice sheets, rising sea levels and shifts in ecosystems.

Scientists study these changes to better understand the climate system and develop ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

💡 Did you know?

Do you know why it's called a 'greenhouse effect'? A greenhouse is a small glass house used for growing plants where it's always warm because the glass lets light in but prevents heat from getting out. Our atmosphere works exactly the same way: greenhouse gases act like the glass panes!

Venus is the planet in the solar system with the most terrifying greenhouse effect! Its atmosphere is so thick and filled with carbon dioxide that it's over 460°C there. That's hot enough to melt lead in seconds. Fortunately, on Earth, we have just the right amount for the temperature to be pleasant for us.

To help the Earth keep its blanket at the neighbor thickness, we can count on forests! Trees naturally absorb carbon dioxide to breathe, which cleans the atmosphere. Planting a tree is a bit like removing a few woolen threads from a blanket that's becoming too hot for our planet.