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Greenhouses are glass houses that you grow plants in during cold weather. The glass allows the sunlight in to heat it up. There are gases in the upper atmosphere that have the same effect that they hold the light in and heat up the atmosphere.

A:In the beginning someone said "these gases keep the earth warm 'like a greenhouse'" meaning they absorbed the sun's heat.

Later some non-science person thought that the gas floated to the top of the atmosphere to form a layer like the glass in a greenhouse.

The popular view is that the atmosphere has some sort of layer of carbon dioxide "up there" that reflects heat back down to Earth rather than letting it escape to space. That would be like the glass on a greenhouse trapping warm air in while letting the sunlight through to increase the heat. In a greenhouse the sunlight warms the benches and floor, he warm objects heat the air, the air is trapped by the double layer of insulating glass.

It does not happen that way.

Sunlight comes in and warms the Earth's surface. It warms the gases in the air too, at least some of them with a bond size that gets excited by sunlight. These special gases are greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour and a few others). They are mixed evenly through all of the atmosphere (not in layer). When the gases are warm they share their heat with all their gas molecule neighbour and heat the atmosphere generally.

The effect is more like wet sand in a microwave. Microwaves do not heat sand. They do heat water. When you microwave wet sand, the water heats up - might even turn to steam. The hot water warms the sand.

Aside: The question "How is the atmosphere like wet sand in a microwave oven?" has not been asked.

A:Greenhouse gases are called so because they cause the greenhouse effect by absorbing the infra red rays and do not allow these rays to escape the atmosphere of the earth, hence leading to an average increase in the temperature of the earth. This effect is deliberately induced in a greenhouse. Thus, the name.

because they work like a green house slowly heat up and don't let heat out

It's called a greenhouse gas because it works like the glass in a greenhouse, or glasshouse for plants, keeping the heat in and not allowing it to escape.

We have probably seen during winter plants are kept in a greenhouse, or a place which is covered with glass. When heat and light enter this house the glass does not allow the heat to go back. The heat is retained and keeps the plants warm. Similarly, when heat and light from the sun enter our atmosphere, some gases like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide do not allow the heat to reflect back into space (like the glass sheet). These are the greenhouse gases.

Because they cause the atmosphere to act as a greenhouse, trapping heat inside.

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12y ago
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14y ago

A greenhouse gas is basically a gas that absorbs the sun's energy. They warm the the atmosphere of the Earth. The main greenhouse gases are CO2 (carbon dioxide), water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. There are more greenhouse gases than this.

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12y ago

Carbon dioxide and water vapour are called the greenhouse gases because they affect the earth in the same way a greenhouse affects the space inside it.

The earth gets heated up by visible light and it releases infrared light (heat waves). Carbon dioxide and water vapour are very good at reflecting infrared (like glass does in greenhouses) back to the earth.

This results in higher temperatures and scientists fear that too many greenhouse gases may cause the earth to become very warm (like Venus).

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11y ago

Because they cause the atmosphere to act as a greenhouse, trapping heat inside.

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12y ago

They aren't called greenhouse effect. They cause the greenhouse effect. It is because the gases trap warm air within the Earth, acting as a greenhouse.

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6y ago

They all block infrared radiation, thus trapping heat in the atmosphere, and slowing the cooling of the Earth at night.

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11y ago
  1. Carbon dioxide (CO2)
  2. Methane (CH4)
  3. Water vapour (H2O)

They all trap heat in the atmosphere.

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Q: Why are water vapor carbon dioxide methane and nitrous oxide called greenhouse gases?
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Continue Learning about Earth Science

What are gases such as carbon dioxide and methane called that help maintain the warm temperatures near the surface of Earth?

They are called greenhouse gases.


Explain why carbon dioxide is called a greenhouse gas.?

A greenhouse gas is a gas that absorbs infrared radiation, traps heat in the atmosphere, and contributes to the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide, methane and chlorofluorocarbons are examples of greenhouse gases.


Why are methane and carbon dioxide called greenhouse gases Why is the atmospheric presence of greenhouse gases increasing?

The GHG gases are called that name as they enhance the retention of solar heat in the Earth'ds atmosphere.Carbon dioxide is increasing because we burn fossil fuels for energy while reducing the amount of plant and forest cover that could remove it from the atmosphere. Methane is increasing because the farming practices around ruminants release digestive gases rich in methane. In addition the heating from the warmer air is releasing methane from permafrost and undersea methane hydrates..


What are the greenhouses gasses?

the names of green house gases are :- water vapour carbon dioxide methane ozone Any gas with three or more atomes is considered a green house gas. Water vapor makes up about 80% of all green house gas.


Which gas is called greenhouse gas?

Carbon dioxide (CO2), if you mean the enhanced (or accelerated) greenhouse effect which is causing global warming. This carbon is released by the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) in industry, transport and the generation of electricity.

Related questions

What is the substance causing the greenhouse effect?

There are several substances that cause the greenhouse effect and they are called greenhouse gases. The main greenhouse gases are: CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) N2O (Nitrous Oxide) O3 (Ozone) CH4 (Methane) CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon) H2O (Water Vapor) A: There are four primary greenhouse gases. They are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorocarbons. There are others, but these are the ones of greatest concern.


Which gases help keep your planet warm?

These gases are called Greenhouse gases. Some of them are- carbon dioxide CO2, water vapour H2O (g), Methane CH4, Ozone O3 and Nitrous Oxide N2O


Why is carbon monoxide called a greenhouse gas?

Carbon monoxide is not usually called a greenhouse gas. It does absorb infrared radiation and trap heat in the atmosphere, which is the definition of a greenhouse gas, but carbon monoxide is very reactive and soluble, so its molecules do not remain in the atmosphere for any significant time.Carbon Dioxide is a serious greenhouse gas, not Carbon Monoxide.


What are gases such as carbon dioxide and methane called that help maintain the warm temperatures near the surface of Earth?

They are called greenhouse gases.


What are gases such as carbon dioxide and methane called that help maintain the warm temperatures near the surface of the earth?

"Greenhouse" gasses.


What gas absorb and trap heat radiation?

Collectively the gases in the Earth's atmosphere which trap heat are called the Greenhouse Gases (GHGs). They are prmarily:Water vapour (H2O)Carbon dioxide (CO2)Methane (CH4)Nitrous oxide (N2O)Ozone (O3)Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)


How are greenhouse gases caused by the sun?

Greenhouse gases like water vapour, carbon dioxide, and methane are not caused by the sun. They are warmed by the sun and they hold the heat to keep the earth warm. This is called the greenhouse effect.


Explain why carbon dioxide is called a greenhouse gas.?

A greenhouse gas is a gas that absorbs infrared radiation, traps heat in the atmosphere, and contributes to the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide, methane and chlorofluorocarbons are examples of greenhouse gases.


Why are methane and carbon dioxide called greenhouse gases Why is the atmospheric presence of greenhouse gases increasing?

The GHG gases are called that name as they enhance the retention of solar heat in the Earth'ds atmosphere.Carbon dioxide is increasing because we burn fossil fuels for energy while reducing the amount of plant and forest cover that could remove it from the atmosphere. Methane is increasing because the farming practices around ruminants release digestive gases rich in methane. In addition the heating from the warmer air is releasing methane from permafrost and undersea methane hydrates..


Heat that is lost to space from the earth occurs by?

Some atmospheric gases trap infrared heat radiated by the Earth. They are called greenhouse gases and the process is called the greenhouse effect. Among the gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane.


What two gases absorb radiation reflected off the Earth's surface?

Those are called Greenhouse Gases. To list a few: Carbon Dioxide Nitrous Oxide Water Vapor Argon


What are the greenhouses gasses?

the names of green house gases are :- water vapour carbon dioxide methane ozone Any gas with three or more atomes is considered a green house gas. Water vapor makes up about 80% of all green house gas.