text: a greenhouse is a small building made of glass.  Sunlight, which can pass through the glass, hits something in the greenhouse and is converted to heat.  The heat cannot pass back through the glass.  \n\nSame thing happens with the Earth.  Light from the sun passes through the atmosphere.  when it hits the ground it is converted into heat.  Most of the heat can't get back through the atmosphere, but alot does escape.\n\nSo as emmissions increase, the atmosphere is changed and more and more heat is trapped on Earth - possibly making the Earth warmer and inducing climate change.\n\nThat is the greenhouse effect