Greenhouse Gases

The gases in our atmosphere that trap heat from the sun are sometimes called greenhouse gases. Greenhouses are small glass houses that are used to grow plants. The glass panels of the greenhouse let in sunlight but keep heat from escaping. This causes the greenhouse to warm up much like the inside of a car heats up on a sunny day. The greenhouse gases in our atmosphere act like the glass panes in a greenhouse. Sunshine gets absorbed by the earth and the atmosphere. Some of the sun's energy goes back into space, but much of it remains trapped in our atmosphere by the greenhouse gases. This is how our planet stays warm enough for life on earth to survive.