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Understanding the Greenhouse Effect

Introduction to the Greenhouse Effect

The Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that occurs on Earth. It is a process that allows Earth to maintain a temperature suitable for life. The Earth's atmosphere contains several gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor. These gases are known as greenhouse gases because they trap heat from the sun and prevent it from escaping back into space. Without these greenhouse gases, the Earth would be too cold to support life.

How the Greenhouse Effect Works

The greenhouse effect works like this: the sun's energy enters the Earth's atmosphere as sunlight. Some of this energy is reflected back into space, but some of it is absorbed by the Earth's surface. The Earth's surface then radiates this energy back into the atmosphere as heat. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap this heat and keep it close to the Earth's surface, causing the temperature to rise.

Human Impact on the Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is a natural process, but human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, are increasing the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is causing the Earth's temperature to rise, leading to climate change. It is important to understand the greenhouse effect and its causes so that we can take action to mitigate its effects.

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The Science of Climate Change

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