Greenhouse Effect
The overall warming of the earth’s lower atmosphere primarily due to carbon dioxide and water vapor which permit the sun’s rays to heat the earth, but then restrict some heat-energy from escaping back into space.
Atmosphere
The gaseous or air portion of the physical environment that encircles a planet. In the case of the earth, it is held more or less near the surface by the earth’s gravitational attraction. The divisions of the atmosphere include the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the ionosphere, and the exosphere.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
A heavy, colorless gas that is the fourth most abundant constituent of dry air, comprising 0.033% of the total.
Water Vapor (H2O)
Water in gaseous form. It is one of the most import constituents of the atmosphere. Due to its molecular content, air containing water vapor is lighter than dry air. This contributes to the reason why moist air has a tendency to rise.