5.3 Green House Effect
5.3 Green House EffectThe greenhouse effect is the natural process in which gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun. This process was first identified by scientists in the 1800s. This process is what makes earth habitable for life.
How it works (simplified):
- Sunlight passes through the atmosphere and warms Earth's surface
- Earth radiates that heat back toward space as infrared radiation (invisible heat energy)
- Greenhouse gases (GHGs) absorb and re-emit some of that infrared radiation
- This trapped heat warms the lower atmosphere—like a blanket around the planet
What is the Greenhouse Effect? (2:29)
Transcript: What is the Greenhouse Effect? (2:29)
[Presenter]
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
Earth is a comfortable place for living things. It’s just the right temperatures for plants and animals – including humans – to thrive. Why is Earth so special? Well, one reason is: the greenhouse effect!
A greenhouse is a building with glass walls and a glass roof. The clear glass allows sunlight to shine into the greenhouse, while also trapping the Sun’s heat inside. This is how a greenhouse keeps plants warm, even at night and in the winter. The greenhouse effect keeps Earth warm in pretty much the same way.
Earth isn’t surrounded by glass, but it is surrounded by a jacket of gases called the atmosphere. In the daytime, the Sun shines through the atmosphere warming Earth’s surface. After the Sun goes down, Earth’s surface cools. This releases heat back into the air. But, some of that heat is trapped by the gases in the atmosphere. These heat-trapping gases are called greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide, water vapor and methane are all examples of greenhouse gases.
Earth needs a balance of greenhouse gases to maintain just the right temperature for living things. But, some human activities are changing Earth’s natural greenhouse effect. For example, burning fossil fuels – like coal and oil – releases more carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. These extra greenhouse gases can cause the atmosphere to trap more and more heat, leading to a warmer Earth.
NASA satellites are constantly measuring the gases in our atmosphere from space. They have observed increases in the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The information from NASA satellites can help scientists figure out where greenhouse gases are coming from and how they are ending up in our atmosphere. This information will help us better understand the impact that greenhouse gases have on our climate. And help us better understand this very special greenhouse that we call home. Find out more about our Earth at NASA Climate Kids!
5.3.1 Greenhouse Gases
5.3.1 Greenhouse GasesCarbon Dioxide (CO2): Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels, solid waste, trees, volcanos, and also as a result of certain chemical reactions (e.g., cement production). Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle. Nearly 80% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the US is from carbon dioxide.
Methane (CH4): Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from livestock and other agricultural practices, land use, and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills. While methane emissions only account for about 11% of GHG emissions in the US, methane is more efficient at trapping radiation than carbon dioxide. Methane’s global warming potential is 28 times greater than carbon dioxide.
Nitrous Oxide (N2O): Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural, land use, and industrial activities; combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste; as well as during treatment of wastewater. Nitrous oxide oxide accounts for only 6% of GHG emissions in the US, but has a large impact because its global warming potential is 265 times that of carbon dioxide.
Water (H2O): Water is a naturally occurring greenhouse gas and most abundant. Water vapor amplifies global warming cause by other greenhouse gases. Water vapor has a very short lifespan in the atmosphere due to precipitation.
Fluorinated gases: Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride are synthetic, powerful greenhouse gases that are emitted from a variety of household, commercial, and industrial applications and processes. Fluorinated gases do have a natural cause, unlike the previous GHG discussed above. They are produced entirely from human related manufacturing and industrial processes.
The greenhouse effect is a natural process essential to life on Earth, maintaining a stable and hospitable climate for millions of years. However, human activities have significantly increased atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, disrupting this long-standing balance and driving a rapid rise in global temperatures. In the next page, we’ll explore how this warming translates into climate change—examining its real-world impacts, the science behind future projections, and the energy solutions that can help stabilize our planet’s climate.
Text description of the Greenhouse Effect image.
The image illustrates the greenhouse effect, divided into two sections: "Natural" and "Human-Enhanced." On the left, under "Natural," the atmosphere is shown as a curved line with "Greenhouse Gases" labeled. A large sun in the upper left corner emits an arrow labeled "Sun Energy" pointing towards Earth. Some of this energy is reflected as "Heat" back into space. The landscape includes small, subtle green shapes resembling hills and grass. The gases CH₄ and CO₂ are labeled above the line. On the right side, under "Human-Enhanced," the same concept is depicted, but with a denser layer of gases, labeled "More Greenhouse Gases." Additional visuals include industrial icons like factories. The arrows indicating heat reflection are more prominent, suggesting increased heat retention. The background is a gradient of blue, with text boxes providing explanations under each heading.