Cambridge O Level Biology · Syllabus 5090 · Relationships of Organisms with One Another and with the Environment
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
What is Enhanced Greenhouse Effect?
The additional warming of the lower atmosphere caused by rising concentrations of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. These gases absorb thermal radiation given off by the Earth's surface and re-radiate some of it back towards the ground instead of allowing it to escape into space. The natural greenhouse effect keeps the planet warm enough to support life; increasing the concentration of these gases increases the proportion of thermal radiation retained, so the average global temperature may rise, climate patterns may change and the distribution of habitats and species may shift.
This definition is part of the Relationships of Organisms with One Another and with the Environment chapter in Cambridge O Level Biology.