The greenhouse effect is named after the effect that is achieved in real greenhouses, or hothouses, of trapping heat to cultivate plants. In the environment's case, however, what's being trapped is the sun's radiation within the Earth's atmosphere. This happens when carbon dioxide (or CO2) and other man-gases such as methane and ozone, allow the sun's rays to warm the planet, but prevent the heat from escaping the lower part of the atmosphere (also know as the troposphere) as it is radiated back from the surface. As we increase the production of greenhouse gases, so too are we exacerbating this warming effect.

Included in the greenhouse gas family is water vapor, which increases as the planet heats up and more of the water evaporates from large bodies of water such as seas and oceans. This is called "positive feedback" effect, where the initial greenhouse effect is furthered by the introduction of more greenhouse gases into the air.

While research continues on just how greenhouse gas emissions have affected the warming of the planet, and if it all has to do with human activity, scientists have determined from evidence found in tree rings and bubbles trapped in ice cores, that the world has not been as warm as it is now for more than a thousand years. And while the international scientific reports that the global temperature will rise a degree or two of warming does not sound like much, it has affected the melting rate of mountain glaciers, arctic sea ice, and the migration of whole ranges of animals and plants. Some crops will thrive will thrive while others will go extinct, ironic for something called the "greenhouse effect."

But it's not as grim as it sounds. The human race has been through seven major climactic changes, including ice ages, in the last million years. Even though the change has been rapid-only over the last two centuries-it is possible to make a dent in the effect of greenhouse gases on global warming. As individuals, it's important to be aware of the kinds of gases we are directly and indirectly contributing to the greenhouse effect, through our energy usage, car and air travel, as well as what we buy in the supermarket. As a country,

Governments, businesses, and scientists must also contribute by continuing to promote and improve alternative energy technologies like wind, solar, hydro- and even nuclear power.

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