Science
How does the greenhouse effect work?
The greenhouse effect works like a blanket: sunlight warms Earth's surface, the surface radiates heat back toward space, and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb and re-emit some of that heat downward — keeping the planet warm.
See it in motion.
Watch a 2-minute animated lesson that shows exactly how the greenhouse effect works.
Step by step
- 1Sunlight passes through the atmosphere and warms the surface.
- 2The warm surface radiates infrared heat upward.
- 3Greenhouse gases (CO₂, methane, water vapor) absorb and re-radiate that heat, trapping some.
- 4More greenhouse gases trap more heat, warming the climate.
Frequently asked questions
- Which gases cause the greenhouse effect?
- Mainly carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and nitrous oxide.
- Is the greenhouse effect natural?
- Yes — it keeps Earth warm enough for life. The problem is the extra warming from human-added gases.
- How does it cause climate change?
- Adding more greenhouse gases traps extra heat, steadily raising global temperatures.