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The earth (Earth) is a body in dynamic balance thermally. It receives radiant energy from the Sun (Sol). The amount of this energy and its wavelength is dependent on Sol's temperature. The amount received is also dependent on the physical relationship between Sol and Earth. A certain amount of this energy is reflected back into space without being absorbed. Astronomers refer to this as the Earth's albedo. The albedo depends mainly on clouds, ice, and snow. Water and earth are strong absorbers. The absorbed solar radiation will raise Earth's temperature until Earth radiates exactly the same energy it is absorbing out into space. This is the dynamic balance. Earth is much colder than Sol so its outward radiation is of much longer wavelength than the radiation coming in from Sol. Certain gases in Earth's atmosphere can absorb this long wavelength radiation and trap it on Earth. This causes Earth's temperature to rise until an in-out balance is achieved. This is called greenhouse effect because it was first noted in glass greenhouses where it is useful for raising new plants.

This increase in temperature can create problems such as melting ice and resultant flooding, diseases in new places, crop problems, etc.

The gases include carbon dioxide, created by burning carbon containing matter, and methane produced by digestive process in both humans and their food animals.

Some scientists have tried to monitor Earth's temperature to check for a rise, but this is extremely difficult because it is variable by latitude, longitude, altitude, time of year, time of day, and random factors. A better approach is to monitor Earth's ice. If Earth is gaining energy, the ice masses will decrease, and if Earth is losing energy, the ice masses will increase.

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