Greenhouse Gases: Causes of Global Warming

[scottyiu]

Do anyone know anything on the green house gases? How are they causing global warming?

 

[dx/dy=?]

A gas is 'defined' as a greenhouse gas if it allows the passive passage of Infra-red radiation through the atmosphere, into the stratosphere, but, also inhibits the passage of IR radiation out of the atmosphere, hence creating a build-up of radiation, and therefore heat in the stratosphere, contributing to what is now known as Global-Warming.

Its a complicated issue to form an analogy for,
if you still need help I recommend reading any recent textbook on Environmental Geology, and on Environmental Chemistry.

Cheers.

 

[ShawnD]

Greenhouse gases are just gases that absorb light. Think of it like wearing a black shirt when a spotlight is pointed directly at you. Your black shirt emits heat in all directions, but you still warm up faster than if you were wearing a white shirt.

 

[GCT]

here are some nice links regarding the nature of such greenhouse gases

http://chemistry.beloit.edu/Warming/pages/infrared.html

http://chemistry.beloit.edu/Warming/pages/molecule.html

http://chemistry.beloit.edu/Warming/pages/emissions.html

http://chemistry.beloit.edu/Warming/