What is the Greenhouse Effect?

The greenhouse effect acts similarly in the earth and in a greenhouse. In a greenhouse, the visible light is passed through the glass, and then absorbed into the atmosphere of the greenhouse. When comparing the greenhouse to earth, the glass acts the same as the ozone layer. 20% of the radiation from the sun absorbs into Earth. When the radiation is in the earth's environment, the radiation is then changed into heat. The heat is kept in the atmosphere because some gases prevent it from leaving. The temperature of the earth rises because the greenhouse gases absorb the heat. Some of the heat is then emitted back to the earth's surface.


Source: http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=1A0305D5-1, http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/grnhse.html