The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth’s surface. When sunlight reaches our planet, some of it is absorbed by the ground and oceans, while the rest is reflected back toward space.

But before that heat can escape, certain gases in our atmosphere, like carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor, trap some of it and re-radiate the warmth back toward Earth. These gases are called “greenhouse gases” and act like the glass walls of a greenhouse, keeping the planet at a temperature that supports life.

A simple example? Think about how hot a car gets when it's parked in the sun. Sunlight passes through the windows and heats up the interior, but that heat gets trapped inside, warming the car dramatically. Earth’s atmosphere works in a similar way.

Weather in your inbox

Forecast Location

Sign Up

By signing up you agree to the Terms & Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe at any time.

Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would be too cold to sustain most forms of life. However, the continued burning of fossil fuels is increasing the amount of heat-trapping gases, strengthening the effect and increasing global temperatures even more.

Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.