So how does this
create a greenhouse effect? The greenhouse
effect occurs because the atmosphere is relatively transparent to
the wavelengths of solar radiation, while it absorbs infrared radiation. So a
large chunk of the sunÕs radiation makes it to the earthÕs surface. At the
same time, the atmosphere containing greenhouse gases absorbs the radiation
emitted by the earthÕs surface, and re-emits it back to the surface, increasing
the total energy the surface receives.
This forces the earthÕs surface
to become warmer than it would be otherwise.