Science Common Sense

1058 - What is the greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is when sunlight enters the Earth's atmosphere and warms the planet. It's like being in a greenhouse, which is a special kind of building that keeps plants warm.

Here's what happens:

1. Sunlight comes into the Earth's atmosphere.
2. The sunlight warms the Earth's surface.
3. The Earth's surface sends back the heat, but some of it is trapped by greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and methane, in the atmosphere.
4. The trapped heat keeps the Earth warm, which is good because it helps keep us cozy.

But, if there's too much greenhouse gas, the Earth can get too warm, which causes problems like really hot weather and rising sea levels.