Explain the atmospheric process that creates the greenhouse effect?

Answer 1

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour, capture heat rising from the surface of the earth. This warms the atmosphere and the earth. This is a natural process that has been going on for millions of years.

(Since the Industrial Revolution, more than 200 years ago, we have been burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) in industry, transport and the generation of electricity. This has released long-hidden carbon dioxide (CO2) which is building up in the atmosphere and causing Global Warming.

Answer 2

Atmospheric gases, such as water
vapor and carbon dioxide, absorb thermal energy and radiate it back to
earth. The gases function like the glasswalls and roof of a greenhouse, allowing solar energy to enter and preventing thermal energy from escaping.

Answer 3

The "greenhouse effect" is widely discussed in the media, and although its details are complicated, its principles are not difficult to understand. Without a greenhouse effect, radiation from the Sun (mostly in the form of visible light) would travel to Earth and be changed into heat, only to be lost to space. This scenario can be sketched as follows:

Sun's radiation → absorbed by Earth → Re-radiated to space as heat

The greenhouse effect is a process where energy from the sun readily penetrates into the lower atmosphere and onto the surface of Earth and is converted to heat,but then cannot freely leave the planet. This can be sketched as follows:

Sun's Radiation → absorbed by Earth → some re-radiated to space as heat → some trapped by the atmosphere

Due to the presence of certain "greenhouse gases" that trap heat, like carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and CFC's, the atmosphere retains the sun's radiation and warms up the planet. By increasing the abundance of these gases in the atmosphere, humankind is increasing the overall warming of the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere, a process called "global warming." The figure below illustrates the radiation balance and the role of greenhouse effect

Answer 4

The greenhouse effect occurs when certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and methane, trap heat from the sun. These gases allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere but prevent some of the heat from escaping back into space, leading to warming of the Earth's surface. This natural process is essential for maintaining the planet's temperature suitable for life but has been intensified by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, leading to global warming.