Natural and Amplified Warming
Natural Warming
The greenhouse effect is a natural warming process. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and certain other gases are always present in the atmosphere. These gases create a warming effect that has some similarity to the warming inside a greenhouse, hence the name “greenhouse effect.”
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Sunlight brings energy into the climate system; most of it is
absorbed by the oceans and land. |
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| THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT: |
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Heat (infrared energy) radiates outward from the warmed
surface of the Earth. |
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Some of the infrared energy is absorbed by greenhouse
gases
in the atmosphere, which re-emit the energy in
all directions. |
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Some of the infrared energy further warms the
Earth. |
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Some of the infrared energy is emitted into space. |
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| AMPLIFIED
GREENHOUSE EFFECT: |
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Higher concentrations of CO2 and other "greenhouse" gases trap more infrared energy in the atmosphere than occurs naturally. The additional heat further warms the atmosphere and Earth’s surface. |
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Amplified Warming
Increasing the amount of greenhouse gases intensifies the greenhouse effect. Higher concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gases trap more infrared energy in the atmosphere than occurs naturally. The additional heat further warms the atmosphere and Earth’s surface.
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Visit the Marian Koshland Science Museum to learn more.
Visitors can feel the difference between natural and amplified warming at the museum. |
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