Increases in the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere have caused an enhanced greenhouse effect. With emissions being produced daily, a large imbalance is being created which is enhancing the greenhouse effect and making it stronger. As there are naturally occurring greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that help keep the Earth warm, additional amounts of these gases leads to more heat being trapped on the planet. This extra heat is causing global warming as well as affecting the Earth's weather patterns.
Define global warming and explain what has caused the recent trend of warming that the earth is experiencing.
The greenhouse effect is a central component to keeping our Earth warm. This process maintains the temperature of the Earth such that the planet is warm enough to develop and sustain life. The preceding is true as long as the components of the greenhouse effect, the amount of light and energy coming from the sun as well as the quantity of greenhouse gases that are in the atmosphere, remain in balance.
Explain why Earth's temperature is directly affected by the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
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When incoming energy from the sun is absorbed by the Earth system, Earth warms. When the sun’s energy is reflected back into space, Earth avoids warming. When absorbed energy is released back into space, Earth cools. When sunlight reaches Earth’s surface, it can either be reflected back into space or absorbed by Earth. Once absorbed, the planet releases some of the energy back into the atmosphere as heat. Greenhouse gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane absorb energy, slowing or preventing the loss of heat to space. In this way, GHGs act like a blanket, making Earth warmer than it would otherwise