Explained: What is the greenhouse effect and how does it help the Earth? | Knowledge News

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In the greenhouse effect, heat is trapped near the surface of the Earth by greenhouse gases. The gases work like a blanket and envelop the Earth, making the temperature warmer.

New Delhi: Climate change and global warming are the two threats which have put the very existence of this planet in jeopardy. Greenhouse gases play a key role in the rising temperature of Earth. However, there is also the greenhouse effect which keeps the Earth warm. in this article, we will take a look at what the greenhouse effect is.

What is the greenhouse effect?

In the greenhouse effect, heat is trapped near the surface of the Earth by greenhouse gases. The gases work like a blanket and envelop the Earth, making the temperature warmer than it would have otherwise. Greenhouse gases consist of carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, chlorofluorocarbons, nitrous oxide, and water vapour. Notably, the greenhouse effect is a crucial thing that makes Earth a comfortable place to live.

How does it work?

A greenhouse is a building with glass walls and a glass roof where plants grow amid warmth, even in winter. During the day, the sunlight warms the plants and air inside the greenhouse. At night, the temperature outside the greenhouse cools down but it stays pretty warm inside. That’s because the glass walls of the greenhouse trap the heat of the sun. Likewise, gases in the atmosphere like carbon dioxide trap heat and the heat-trapping gases are called greenhouse gases.

During the day, the sun makes the atmosphere warm. At night, the surface of the planet cools down and the heat is released back into the air. However, the greenhouse gases trap some of the heat in the atmosphere. It keeps the Earth warm and cosy on average. According to scientists, carbon dioxide plays an important role in maintaining the stability of the atmosphere of this planet. If carbon dioxide were removed, the terrestrial greenhouse effect would collapse, and there would be a significant drop in the surface temperature of Earth.

How has human activity impacted it?

Human activities in the last century, mainly the burning of fossil fuels resulted in the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere which disrupted the energy balance of this planet. There is an increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the level has been rising consistently for decades. The damage it causes is that the extra greenhouse gases trap more heat, leading to a rise in temperature on this planet.

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