WHAT IS THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT?

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Greenhouse gases regulate our climate by trapping heat from the sun and holding it in a kind of  warm air blanket that surrounds the earth.  Without it out planet would be colder by 54F, way too  cold to sustain our ecosystem. Greenhouse gases trap some of the infrared radiation that escapes from the Earth,  making the Earth warmer that it would otherwise be. Greenhouse gases act as a "blanket" for  infrared radiation; it keeps the lower layers of the atmosphere warmer and the  upper layers colder than if the greenhouse gases were not there.  The "natural" greenhouse effect keeps the Earth's climate warm and habitable. About 80-90% of  the Earth's natural greenhouse effect is due to water vapor, a strong greenhouse gas. The  remainder is due to carbon dioxide, methane, and a few other minor gases.  There is also the "man-made" greenhouse effect, which is the enhancement of Earth's natural greenhouse effect by the addition of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels (mainly  petroleum, coal, and natural gas).  An increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases leads to an increase in the magnitude of  the greenhouse effect. This is referred to as the enhanced greenhouse effect.  The problem with  the greenhouse effect is when human activities distort and accelerate the natural process by  creating more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.   It is the carbon dioxide concentration that is increasing, due to the burning of fossil fuels  (as well as from some rainforest burning). This is the man-made  portion of the greenhouse effect, and it is believed by many scientists to be responsible for the global warming of the last  150 years.  Also, the concentration of methane, although small, has also increased in recent decades. The reasons for this increase, though, are uncertain.  Based on the following article, http://www.weatherquestions.com/.  Photos care of http://www.bigskyco2.org/, http://www.realscience.org.uk/ and http://www.chemhume.co.uk/ For related articles click onto: Acid rain and its effect on wildlife Caring for the coral reefs Causes of acid rain Coral reefs and the greenhouse effect Conserving fossil fuels Energy saving light bulbs Fossil Fuels Fossil fuels: Alternative sources of energy What is acid rain? What is the difference between an asteroid and a comet? What is global warming? What is global warming? What is the greenhouse effect What is the difference between a fog and a mist?? What is the Gulf Stream? What is the difference between energy efficient light bulbs and traditional light bulbs?