what is meant by the greenhouse effect

The greenhouse effect refers to the process by which certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat, helping to maintain the planet's temperature and supporting life. This process occurs when the Sun's energy reaches the Earth, allowing sunlight to enter the atmosphere and reach the surface. Here’s how it works: 1. **Solar Radiation**: The Earth's surface absorbs sunlight, converting it into heat. This energy warms the planet. 2. **Infrared Radiation**: The warmed surface then emits this energy back into the atmosphere as infrared radiation (heat). 3. **Greenhouse Gases**: Certain gases in the atmosphere, known as greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor), absorb and re-radiate some of this outgoing infrared radiation back toward the Earth's surface. 4. **Heat Retention**: This trapping of heat helps to keep the Earth's surface warmer than it would be without these gases, a natural process vital for sustaining life. While the greenhouse effect is essential for maintaining a habitable climate, human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, have significantly increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This enhancement of the greenhouse effect is leading to global warming and climate change, which pose serious environmental challenges.