* Sunlight reaches Earth: The sun emits energy in the form of light and heat. When this energy reaches Earth, some of it is reflected back into space.
* Greenhouse gases: The Earth's atmosphere contains gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor. These are known as "greenhouse gases."
* Trapping heat: Greenhouse gases act like a blanket, absorbing some of the heat that would otherwise escape back into space. This absorbed heat is then re-radiated back towards Earth, warming the planet.
This process is known as the greenhouse effect, and it's essential for life on Earth. Without it, Earth's average temperature would be much colder, and life as we know it wouldn't be possible.
However, increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, largely due to human activities, are leading to a global warming problem. This is because the increased levels of these gases trap more heat, causing the Earth's temperature to rise at an alarming rate.
