From DOE-Fossil Energy -What is the greenhouse effect? http://www.fe.doe.gov/issues/climatechange/globalclimate_intro.html
The greenhouse effect is good for you. Life could not exist on planet Earth without it. Our atmosphere keeps the average temperature of the earth high enough to support life. The Earth is heated by the sun's radiation and cooled down by infra red radiation emitted from the Earth's surface. Certain gases in the atmosphere make sure that the heat does not escape too quickly.
If we did not have an atmosphere the surface of the Earth would become very hot during the day and bitterly cold at night.
Some other planets have atmospheres that are too good at keeping the heat in. They are too hot for life.
Compare the atmospheres and average temperatures of Earth and Venus.
The greenhouse warming effect on Earth is 33°C
The greenhouse warming effect on Venus is 523°C
What could be causing this effect?
