Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change

GREENHOUSE GASES AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour act as an insulating layer in the Earth's atmosphere, which allows the Earth to be warm enough to support life. They absorb the long wavelength radiation that gets reflected back from the Earth. This re-radiates the Earth - making it warmer. This is the greenhouse effect.

Some human activity can affect the volume of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. 

• Deforestation - fewer trees means less CO2 is removed from the atmosphere via photosynthesis.
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