Greenhouse Effect

To extend the growing season, many farmers use greenhouses. A greenhouse traps heat so that days that might be too cool for a growing plant can be made to be just the right temperature. Similar to a greenhouse, greenhouse gases in the atmosphere of the Earth traps the energy of the sun to keep our planet warm. This makes life on Earth possible. 

Greenhouse gases warm the atmosphere by trapping heat. Some of the heat that radiates out from the ground is trapped by greenhouse gases in the troposphere. Like a blanket on a sleeping person, greenhouse gases act as insulation for the planet. The warming of the atmosphere because of insulation by greenhouse gases is called the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases are the component of the atmosphere that moderate Earth’s temperatures. They allow short wave radiation to reach the Earth's surface, but trap the long wave radiation, preventing it from escaping the atmosphere and keeping temperatures warm. 

Source: Greenhouse Effect. Retrieved from http://www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Earth-Science-Concepts-For-High-School/r16/section/9.14/on August 26, 2013. 

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Last modified: Friday, 9 December 2016, 12:51 PM