Energy and Climate  Concepts

The selective nature of radiation absorption by atmospheric gases is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. Much of the shortwave, or solar, energy passes through the atmosphere and warms the surface. While the atmosphere is nearly transparent to shortwave radiation, it efficiently absorbs terrestrial or longwave radiation emitted upward by the surface. So, although carbon dioxide and water vapor make up only a very small percentage of the atmospheric gases, they are extremely important because they absorb this longwave radiation and emit it throughout the atmosphere. Move through the slides below to examine the different aspects of the greenhouse effect.