Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is very simple to understand. There are only four steps to the whole greenhouse effect.

• Initially the sun’s short wave rays pass through the Earth’s atmosphere. This is similar to the sunlight passing through the glass of a greenhouse.
• After contacting an object, in this case the Earth, the short waves become long waves of heat. This is similar to when the light strikes the floor of a greenhouse.
• The Earth’s atmosphere has several gasses that trap the rays on Earth. This is similar when the glass of a greenhouse blocks the long wave rays from leaving the room.
• Finally there are other gasses, known as greenhouse gasses that trap most of the long wave radiation on earth effectively completing the greenhouse effect. This is similar to the greenhouse gasses in a greenhouse that make it warmer.

Why the Greenhouse Effect is so Important

Without the greenhouse effect the earth would be 33° C colder than it is now. That means it would be like a cold winter day everyday of the year with summers reaching a little above freezing. An average winter day would be as cold as some of the record lows around the United States.