greenhouse effect
nounDefinition of greenhouse effect
: warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of a planet (such as Earth or Venus) that is caused by conversion of solar radiation into heat in a process involving selective transmission of short wave solar radiation by the atmosphere, its absorption by the planet's surface, and reradiation as infrared which is absorbed and partly reradiated back to the surface by atmospheric gases
Examples of greenhouse effect in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Previously, high levels of methane in the atmosphere had generated a greenhouse effect that warmed the planet. — Eric Hand, Science | AAAS, "Shock and thaw? Earth’s oldest asteroid impact may have helped lift the planet out of a deep freeze," 27 Aug. 2019 The current generation of refrigerants (hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs) has little effect on the ozone layer but unfortunately contributes heavily to the greenhouse effect. — Carine Sebi, Quartz, "How to cool your home without warming the planet," 27 Aug. 2019 The figures don’t include other factors that scientists say increase the greenhouse effect from flying. — Washington Post, "Climate of guilt: Flying no longer the high road for some," 20 June 2019 Without humans contributing these emissions, greenhouse gases, through the greenhouse effect, keep Earth’s surface warm. — Sophie Austin, sun-sentinel.com, "Where 2020 Democrats stand on carbon tax and other climate change policies," 26 July 2019 That trapping of heat is known as the greenhouse effect. — Christina Nunez, National Geographic, "Carbon dioxide levels are at a record high. Here's what you need to know.," 13 May 2019 Secondly, as the greenhouse effect makes the upper atmosphere warmer and thus more humid, the cooling of the tops of stratocumulus clouds from above becomes less efficient. — Natalie Wolchover, WIRED, "As the World Warms, Clouds Could Disappear—Catastrophically," 3 Mar. 2019 Climate change is a result of a process known as the greenhouse effect. — Emily Hernandez, Teen Vogue, "What Is Climate Change? Everything You Need To Know About Global Warming," 17 July 2018 Imagine the atmosphere as a greenhouse encircling the planet: The same way greenhouses are used to grow plants in the winter or in colder regions, the greenhouse effect allows us to live our lives on Earth in comfort. — Emily Hernandez, Teen Vogue, "What Is Climate Change? Everything You Need To Know About Global Warming," 17 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'greenhouse effect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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