Question

Explain briefly how the greenhouse effect occurs.

Answer 1

Some gases in the earth’s atmosphere are strong absorbers in the infrared range. These gases absorb the radiation emitted by the warmed surfaces of the earth. The gases then re-emit the radiation back to the earth’s surface, making it warmer than it otherwise would be. In this way, the gases act like a glass in a greenhouse. Hence, the effect is called the greenhouse effect.