What is the greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is a process that occurs when gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap the Sun’s heat. This can cause the Earth to be much warmer than it usually would be.

As described in the video, think of Earth like a glasshouse, where heat gets trapped inside. This is much like what is happening now, the sun heats up the Earth and the gases prevent the heat from leaving the Earth’s atmosphere.

The Earth’s average surface air temperature has increased by about 1 degree Celsius since 1900, with over half of the increase occurring since the mid-1970s. The past seven years have been the seven warmest years on record according to the World Meteorological Organization.

As the next generation of innovators, we can use science, technology and engineering to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure our beautiful planet is around for many generations to come.

At Pacific Learners, we are passionate about children’s education, so we have a dedicated STEAM Resource page that brings together all our STEAM content in one place