Global Warming the Greenhouse Effect

The Greenhouse Effect is very important for the creation and equilibrium of Earth's surface temperature. On Mars a runaway Greenhouse Effect was perhaps responsible for its over heating and loss of water!

> key word is equilibrium (balance) if the equilibrium is shifted one way or the other Earth can begin to heat up or cool down

> natural  mechanisms for maintaining equilibrium are possible but perhaps at new  temperature "set points"

> the albedo of Earth's surface, clouds, particulate matter and gases are all influences on the temperature equilibrium

> without the Greenhouse Effect the temperature of the surface of Earth is estimated to be about 253K*

Shorter wave visible light penetrates atmosphere while some of the longer wave infrared (IR)
is reflected back by CO2 NO2 CH4 and other gases