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Geology & Earth Sciences vocabulary · Weather & Climate

Greenhouse effect

Meaning in geology & earth sciences, with examples

nounCore term

In geology & earth sciences, greenhouse effect means: The warming of the Earth's surface because gases such as water vapour, carbon dioxide and methane absorb heat given off by the ground and send part of it back down.

In Turkish: sera etkisi

How it is used

A natural effect that keeps the Earth's average surface temperature at around 15 °C instead of about -18 °C. Human emissions strengthen it, so scientists speak of an enhanced greenhouse effect. Related terms: greenhouse gases, emissions, global warming.

Example sentences

  1. Without the natural greenhouse effect, the Earth would be frozen.

  2. Rising carbon dioxide levels are strengthening the greenhouse effect.

Common collocations

  • greenhouse gases
  • the natural greenhouse effect
  • enhanced greenhouse effect
  • greenhouse gas emissions
  • atmosphereThe layer of gases surrounding the Earth, held in place by gravity. It is mostly nitrogen and oxygen, and weather happens in its lowest layer, the troposphere.
  • climateThe typical weather of a region over a long period, usually averaged over 30 years, including temperature, rainfall and wind.
  • ice ageA long period in Earth's history when global temperatures were low and large ice sheets covered parts of the continents. The last glacial period ended about 11,700 years ago.
  • weatherThe state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, such as temperature, wind, cloud, humidity and precipitation over hours or days.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Weather & Climate

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