Summary
Gases like carbon dioxide and methane trap heat in the atmosphere, warming the Earth.
In depth
Natural greenhouse effect warms Earth by about 33 °C. Greenhouse gases: CO2, CH4, N2O, water vapour and fluorinated gases. Human emissions enhance it. Different gases have different global warming potentials.
Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation emitted by Earth and re-emit it, warming the lower atmosphere. Without it, average temperatures would be about -18 °C.
Common mistake: the greenhouse effect is natural; the enhanced greenhouse effect is the human-caused problem.
The greenhouse effect is a natural process in which certain gases absorb infrared radiation emitted by Earth's surface and re-emit it in all directions, warming the lower atmosphere. Without it, Earth's average temperature would be about -18 °C instead of about 15 °C.
Main greenhouse gases are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases, which differ in strength and lifetime: methane traps more heat per molecule but lasts about a decade, while CO2 lasts centuries. Human activities have raised CO2 from about 280 ppm before 1750 to over 420 ppm.
Example: Venus has a runaway greenhouse effect.
Common mistake: the effect itself is not a problem; the enhanced effect from added gases is.
Frequently asked questions
What is Greenhouse Effect?
Gases like carbon dioxide and methane trap heat in the atmosphere, warming the Earth.
Which area of biology covers Greenhouse Effect, and how advanced is it?
Greenhouse Effect is one of the 54 topics in Marine & Environmental Biology. It is rated Beginner, so it suits learners who are starting out in biology. Related topics in this area include Global Warming, Climate Feedback Loops, Thermohaline Circulation.
Can you give an example of Greenhouse Effect?
Methane is about 28 times more potent than CO2 over 100 years.
What should I learn before Greenhouse Effect?
Greenhouse Effect is a Beginner topic, so no earlier topic is required. Other Beginner topics in Marine & Environmental Biology that pair well with it include Oceans, Ocean Zones, Plankton.
What topics are related to Greenhouse Effect?
The closest topics to Greenhouse Effect are Global Warming, Climate Feedback Loops, Thermohaline Circulation, Oceans. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Greenhouse Effect?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Greenhouse Effect. To practise the whole of Marine & Environmental Biology, use the Marine & Environmental Biology quiz.
How is Greenhouse Effect different from Global Warming?
Greenhouse Effect: Gases like carbon dioxide and methane trap heat in the atmosphere, warming the Earth. Global Warming: The long-term rise in global average temperature caused mainly by human emission of greenhouse gases. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
What is a common mistake about Greenhouse Effect?
The greenhouse effect is natural; the enhanced greenhouse effect is the human-caused problem.
How should I study Greenhouse Effect step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Global Warming and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Marine & Environmental Biology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.