The natural greenhouse effect helps keep Earth warmer than it would be without these gases. Adding long-lived greenhouse gases changes how readily energy leaves the lower atmosphere and surface. In the drawing, yellow paths represent incoming sunlight and orange paths represent outgoing or re-emitted infrared radiation.
Weather and climate · Discover & try
How do greenhouse gases affect escaping energy?
Reading level 2 of 5 · DevelopingChange
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Infrared radiation
Electromagnetic radiation emitted strongly by Earth’s warm surface and atmosphere.
Emission
A process that sends out radiation.
Energy balance
The comparison between energy entering and leaving a system.
Watch · Try · Explain
See how it works
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Original radiation-path schematic; the interaction setting is not a CO₂-to-temperature forecast.
What to look for
- Distinguish sunlight from outgoing infrared.
- Follow both upward and downward emission.
- Look for paths that still reach space.
Explain what you noticed
In a separate energy diagram, some infrared rays escape while others are absorbed and re-emitted. Is that compatible with a greenhouse effect?
Keep this idea: Greenhouse gases absorb and emit infrared radiation, slowing heat loss until the energy balance adjusts.
Follow the sources
Source material checked 2026-10-28. Explanations and activities by Nepedia. Source links do not imply endorsement.
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