Energy from the sun warms the earth. It also drives the earth's weather and climate. The earth's surface absorbs the sun and radiates it back into space in the form of infrared radiation. This process is referred to as the greenhouse effect.
About one percent of the earth's atmosphere is composed of greenhouse gases. Together these gases reflect enough heat back to the earth to maintain the average temperature of the atmosphere at around 60 degrees F. Without the greenhouse effect, the earth would be a cold uninhabitable place. …
