In Layman’s terms, sunlight (solar radiation) first passes through the atmosphere and a portion of the solar radiation reaches Earth’s surface, warming the Earth. The solar radiation not absorbed by Earth’s surface gets reflected in the direction of space. A portion of this reflected energy escapes through the atmosphere and into space; the remainder is absorbed by greenhouse gases and gets trapped in the atmosphere. This absorption of energy by the atmosphere causes an increase in temperature of the atmosphere and also Earth’s surface, making it livable. Equilibrium occurs when the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere remains the same and the amount of solar radiation coming from the sun is constant. Thus, there would be no outlying problem.
Before the Industrial Revolution, it is probable that no problems existed with the natural greenhouse effect. However, since the beginning of this era the level of GHGs in the atmosphere has increased substantially, creating what many call the “enhanced greenhouse effect.” It is very likely that the increase in GHGs that results in an enhanced absorption of radiated energy from the Earth’s surface is warming the Earth at a rate that is undesirable. This rate of warming has the potential for great dangers and disasters.
