The greenhouse effect is caused by certain gases in Earth's atmosphere-known as greenhouse gases-that trap heat from the Sun. These gases allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere and warm the planet's surface, but then absorb and re- radiate the infrared heat that the Earth emits, preventing it from escaping back into space. This process keeps the planet warmer than it would be otherwise
. The main greenhouse gases responsible for this effect include:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2), primarily from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as deforestation
- Methane (CH4), emitted by livestock digestion, landfills, rice farming, and fossil fuel production
- Nitrous oxide (N2O), released from agricultural fertilizers, burning fossil fuels, and biomass
- Water vapor (H2O), which occurs naturally and amplifies the warming effect
- Fluorinated gases and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), synthetic gases used in industry with strong warming potential
Human activities have significantly increased the concentrations of these greenhouse gases since the industrial revolution, enhancing the natural greenhouse effect and causing global warming. Key contributors include fossil fuel combustion, deforestation (which reduces CO2 absorption), agriculture, and industrial processes
. In summary, the greenhouse effect is caused by greenhouse gases trapping heat in Earth's atmosphere, with human activities increasing these gases and intensifying the warming of the planet
