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Article: Greenhouse Gases and Greenhouse Effect
- Article from:
- World of Earth Science
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Greenhouse gases and greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect is the physical mechanism by which the atmosphere helps to maintain Earth's surface
temperature
within a range comfortable for organisms and ecological processes. The greenhouse effect is largely a natural phenomenon, but its intensity may be changing because of increasing concentrations of
carbon dioxide
and some other gases in the atmosphere. These increased concentrations are occurring as a result of human activities, especially the burning of fossil
fuels
and the clearing of
forests
. A probable consequence of an intensification of Earth's greenhouse effect will be a significant warming of the atmosphere. This could ...