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Friday, 17 November 2006 01:00 |
Greenhouse effect is a natural effect that releases heat in the atmosphere (troposphere) near the earth"s surface. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, and other gases in the lower atmosphere (troposphere) absorb some of the infrared radiation (heat) radiated by the earth"s surface. Their molecules vibrate and transform the absorbed energy into longer-wavelength infrared radiation (heat) in the troposphere. If the atmospheric concentrations of these greenhouse gases increase and other natural processes do not remove them, the average temperature of the lower atmosphere will increase gradually. Compare
global warming. See also natural greenhouse effect. |
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