What is Greenhouse Effect?

There are two meanings of the term "greenhouse effect". There is a "natural" greenhouse effect that keeps the Earth's climate warm and habitable. There is also the "man-made" greenhouse effect, which is the enhancement of Earth's natural greenhouse effect by the addition of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels (mainly petroleum, coal, and natural gas). Greenhouse gases as sort of a "blanket" for infrared radiation-- it keeps the lower layers of the atmosphere warmer, and the upper layers colder, than if the greenhouse gases were not there.

Greenhouse effect

Earth absorbs incoming solar radiation and then trys to cool by emitting long wavelength infrared radiation. This radiation is absorbed by green house gases and hence can’t escape →net effect should be to increase mean annual temperature.