Greenhouse effect (Q647)
Subject, term, tag: Greenhouse effect
| Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Greenhouse effect |
Subject, term, tag: Greenhouse effect |
Statements
IPCC Glossary v1.5
1 reference
27 May 2026
The infrared radiative effect of all infrared-absorbing constituents in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases (GHGs), clouds, and some aerosols absorb terrestrial radiation emitted by the Earth’s surface and elsewhere in the atmosphere. These substances emit infrared radiation in all directions, but, everything else being equal, the net amount emitted to space is normally less than would have been emitted in the absence of these absorbers because of the decline of temperature with altitude in the troposphere and the consequent weakening of emission. An increase in the concentration of GHGs increases the magnitude of this effect; the difference is sometimes called the enhanced greenhouse effect. The change in a GHG concentration because of anthropogenic emissions contributes to an instantaneous radiative forcing. Earth’s surface temperature and troposphere warm in response to this forcing, gradually restoring the radiative balance at the top of the atmosphere. (English)
IPCC Glossary v1.5
1 reference
27 May 2026