Greenhouse Effect
The result of water vapor, carbon dioxide and
other atmospheric gases trapping radiant (infrared) energy, thereby
keeping the Earth's surface warmer than it would otherwise be.
Greenhouse gases within the lower levels of the atmosphere trap this
radiation, which would otherwise escape into space, and subsequent
re-radiation of some of this energy back to the Earth maintains higher
surface temperatures than would occur if the gases were absent.
(Courtesy of Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy)
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