Science
What is The greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect is the process by which gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat, keeping the planet warm enough for life. Burning fossil fuels adds more of these gases, intensifying the effect and warming the climate.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains the greenhouse effect.
Key things to understand
- 1Sunlight warms Earth's surface, which radiates heat back toward space.
- 2Greenhouse gases (CO₂, methane, water vapor) absorb and re-emit some of that heat, keeping it in.
- 3A natural greenhouse effect makes Earth habitable; too much causes warming.
- 4Human emissions are strengthening the effect, driving climate change.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the greenhouse effect bad?
- No — a natural greenhouse effect keeps Earth warm enough for life. The problem is the extra warming from human-added gases.
- Which gases cause the greenhouse effect?
- Mainly carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and nitrous oxide.
- How is it linked to climate change?
- Adding more greenhouse gases traps more heat, raising global temperatures — the core driver of climate change.