the greenhouse effect
noun
: the warming of the Earth's atmosphere that is caused by air pollution
Note: The greenhouse effect occurs when warmth from the sun is trapped in the Earth's atmosphere by a layer of gases (such as carbon dioxide) and water vapor.
Examples of the greenhouse effect in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The gist of the greenhouse effect is that some of that light, instead of escaping straight to space, hits CO2 molecules in the atmosphere.
—
Joseph Howlett, WIRED, 25 Aug. 2024
An Old Conclusion How could Arrhenius understand the basics of the greenhouse effect before quantum mechanics was even discovered?
—Joseph Howlett, WIRED, 25 Aug. 2024
Scientists worldwide believe that the use of fossil fuels is worsening the greenhouse effect, leading to intense warming, extreme climate events, and longer dry spells.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
The initial years following Chicxulub then saw a rapid rise in global temperatures due to the greenhouse effect, followed by a prolonged era of cooler temperatures that continued to stifle life and eradicate species.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Aug. 2024
Earth’s atmosphere is thick enough to retain enough heat to sustain life by what’s known as the greenhouse effect.
—Sven Bilén, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2024
When these carbon-rich ecosystems burn, vast amounts of heat-trapping gases are released back into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect.
—Aditi Sangal, CNN, 14 June 2024
As humans contribute to the greenhouse effect at the same time, trapping Earth’s heat near the surface, storms tend to be much more powerful.
—Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 21 Feb. 2024
By Munroe’s estimation, scientists first identified the greenhouse effect — that rising carbon dioxide levels in Earth’s atmosphere, driven by industrial activity, could dramatically raise the planet’s temperature — closer to the start of the Industrial Revolution than to today.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2024
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Joseph Howlett, WIRED, 25 Aug. 2024
An Old Conclusion How could Arrhenius understand the basics of the greenhouse effect before quantum mechanics was even discovered?
—Joseph Howlett, WIRED, 25 Aug. 2024
Scientists worldwide believe that the use of fossil fuels is worsening the greenhouse effect, leading to intense warming, extreme climate events, and longer dry spells.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
The initial years following Chicxulub then saw a rapid rise in global temperatures due to the greenhouse effect, followed by a prolonged era of cooler temperatures that continued to stifle life and eradicate species.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Aug. 2024
Earth’s atmosphere is thick enough to retain enough heat to sustain life by what’s known as the greenhouse effect.
—Sven Bilén, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2024
When these carbon-rich ecosystems burn, vast amounts of heat-trapping gases are released back into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect.
—Aditi Sangal, CNN, 14 June 2024
As humans contribute to the greenhouse effect at the same time, trapping Earth’s heat near the surface, storms tend to be much more powerful.
—Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 21 Feb. 2024
By Munroe’s estimation, scientists first identified the greenhouse effect — that rising carbon dioxide levels in Earth’s atmosphere, driven by industrial activity, could dramatically raise the planet’s temperature — closer to the start of the Industrial Revolution than to today.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“The greenhouse effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20greenhouse%20effect. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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