Science Common Sense
120 - What are greenhouse gases?
Greenhouse gases are certain types of gases in the air that trap heat from the sun. Imagine you're in a car on a sunny day with the windows rolled up. The car gets warmer because the heat from the sun can't escape. That's kind of what greenhouse gases do to the Earth.
Some common greenhouse gases include:
- Carbon dioxide (from burning fossil fuels like gasoline or coal)
- Methane (from farms where animals live, or from burning trash)
- Water vapor (from the oceans and lakes)
These gases keep the Earth warm enough for us to live comfortably. But when there's too much of them, it's like having too many blankets on – the Earth gets too hot.