Greenhouses

Greenhouses are glass buildings used to grow plants in the winter; they work by trapping heat from the sun inside the buildings. Light comes in, but heat doesn't escape. In this way, they are able to warm the plants inside. The greenhouse effect is the idea of turning the entire Earth into a greenhouse.

Greenhouse Gases

Certain gases are labeled "greenhouse gases" because they trap heat from the Sun in the Earth's atmosphere. These gases include carbon dioxide and methane.

Temperature Control

If we didn't have greenhouse gases then Earth's temperature would be approximately 60 degrees Fahrenheit lower, on average. In this way, the greenhouse gases help control Earth's temperature and make the planet livable.

Too Much Heat

If the greenhouse effect increases, it could alter Earth's climate, making it warmer overall. Even small changes in temperature can have major effects on Earth, such as raising sea levels or causing droughts.

Causes

The greenhouse effect may be fine as it is, but if it gets out of control it could result in disaster (such as flooding and famine). The greenhouse gases in our atmosphere increase every time we do things to release those gases in the air; this happens as a result of factory production, vehicle emissions and the use of harmful chemicals. If we continue to produce these gases, they will trap more heat from the Sun in our atmosphere and cause the Earth to overheat.

Source:

EPA