Florida Biology EOC Practice Test 2026 - Free Biology End-of-Course Practice Questions and Study Guide

The greenhouse effect refers to the warming of Earth that occurs when certain gases in the planet's atmosphere trap heat. This heat-trapping mechanism is primarily due to greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor. When sunlight reaches the Earth, some of it is reflected back into space, while the rest is absorbed by the Earth's surface, warming it. The Earth then emits this energy back into the atmosphere in the form of infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases absorb and re-radiate some of this emitted energy, preventing it from escaping into space, which in turn keeps the planet warmer than it would be otherwise. This process is essential for maintaining a climate that supports life, but human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, have significantly increased concentrations of greenhouse gases, intensifying the greenhouse effect and contributing to climate change.