ALL meanings of greenhouse effect
green·house ef·fect
G g - noun greenhouse effect environment: global warming 1
- noun greenhouse effect an atmospheric heating phenomenon, caused by short-wave solar radiation being readily transmitted inward through the earth's atmosphere but longer-wavelength heat radiation less readily transmitted outward, owing to its absorption by atmospheric carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, and other gases; thus, the rising level of carbon dioxide is viewed with concern. 1
- noun greenhouse effect such a phenomenon on another planet. 1
- singular noun greenhouse effect The greenhouse effect is the problem caused by increased quantities of gases such as carbon dioxide in the air. These gases trap the heat from the sun, and cause a gradual rise in the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere. 0
- noun greenhouse effect an effect occurring in greenhouses, etc, in which radiant heat from the sun passes through the glass warming the contents, the radiant heat from inside being trapped by the glass 0
- noun greenhouse effect the application of this effect to a planet's atmosphere; carbon dioxide and some other gases in the planet's atmosphere can absorb the infrared radiation emitted by the planet's surface as a result of exposure to solar radiation, thus increasing the mean temperature of the planet 0
- noun greenhouse effect the warming of a planet's surface and lower atmosphere caused by trapped solar radiation: solar shortwave radiation penetrates to the planet's surface and is reradiated into the atmosphere as infrared waves that are then absorbed by carbon dioxide, water vapor, etc. 0
- noun greenhouse effect (ecology) (with the) The process by which a planet is warmed by its atmosphere. 0