the greenhouse effect

noun

: the warming of the Earth's atmosphere that is caused by air pollution

Note: The greenhouse effect occurs when warmth from the sun is trapped in the Earth's atmosphere by a layer of gases (such as carbon dioxide) and water vapor.

Examples of the greenhouse effect in a Sentence

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Scientists worldwide believe that the use of fossil fuels is worsening the greenhouse effect, leading to intense warming, extreme climate events, and longer dry spells. Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024 The initial years following Chicxulub then saw a rapid rise in global temperatures due to the greenhouse effect, followed by a prolonged era of cooler temperatures that continued to stifle life and eradicate species. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Aug. 2024 The gist of the greenhouse effect is that some of that light, instead of escaping straight to space, hits CO2 molecules in the atmosphere. Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 7 Aug. 2024 Earth’s atmosphere is thick enough to retain enough heat to sustain life by what’s known as the greenhouse effect. Sven Bilén, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2024 When these carbon-rich ecosystems burn, vast amounts of heat-trapping gases are released back into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect. Aditi Sangal, CNN, 14 June 2024 As humans contribute to the greenhouse effect at the same time, trapping Earth’s heat near the surface, storms tend to be much more powerful. Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 21 Feb. 2024 By Munroe’s estimation, scientists first identified the greenhouse effect — that rising carbon dioxide levels in Earth’s atmosphere, driven by industrial activity, could dramatically raise the planet’s temperature — closer to the start of the Industrial Revolution than to today. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2024 In the greenhouse effect, solar radiation reaches the planet's surface, and the planet releases some of that energy by emitting infrared radiation. Discover Magazine, 20 Oct. 2010

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Cite this Entry

“The greenhouse effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20greenhouse%20effect. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

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