{"id":1388,"date":"2019-12-06T14:28:25","date_gmt":"2019-12-06T14:28:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/?page_id=1388"},"modified":"2023-04-05T07:18:13","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T07:18:13","slug":"how-does-the-greenhouse-effect-work","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/how-does-the-greenhouse-effect-work\/","title":{"rendered":"The greenhouse effect"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\t<section class=\"hero-section hero-section-with-social\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1>The greenhouse effect<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Discovering Geology &mdash; Climate change<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"social-wrap social-wrap-inline-them\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sea-background-f\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share this article<\/span><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/how-does-the-greenhouse-effect-work\/\"><span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span class=\"hidden\">Facebook<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=The%20greenhouse%20effect&#038;url=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/how-does-the-greenhouse-effect-work\/\"><span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span class=\"hidden\">Twitter<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   onclick=\"javascript:void( (function() {var e=document.createElement('script' );e.setAttribute('type','text\/javascript' );e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8' );e.setAttribute('src','\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());\"  href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><span class=\"icon-pinterest\"><span class=\"hidden\">Pinterest<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/wa.me?text=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/how-does-the-greenhouse-effect-work\/\"><span class=\"icon-whatsapp\"><span class=\"hidden\">WhatsApp<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   href=\"mailto:?subject=The%20greenhouse%20effect&#038;body=Gases%20in%20the%20Earth&#039;s%20atmosphere%20act%20as%20an%20insulating%20blanket%20around%20the%20planet,%20trapping%20more%20of%20the%20Sun\u2019s%20heat.%20(https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/how-does-the-greenhouse-effect-work\/)\"><span class=\"icon-mail\"><span class=\"hidden\">Email<\/span><\/span><\/a><a href=\"#\" data-copy=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/how-does-the-greenhouse-effect-work\/\" class=\"copy-url-on-click\"><span class=\"icon-link\"><span class=\"hidden\">Copy Link<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-bgs-blocks-content-container content-section\"><div class=\"container\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n<p>&#8216;Greenhouse gases&#8217; are crucial to keeping our planet at a suitable temperature for life. Without the natural greenhouse effect, the heat emitted by the Earth would simply pass outwards from the Earth\u2019s surface into space and the Earth would have an average temperature of about -20\u00b0C. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"greenhouse\">Greenhouse gases<\/h2>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Greenhouse_effect_005_RGB-1400x651.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;The greenhouse effect: some of the infrared radiation from the Sun passes through the atmosphere, but most is absorbed and re-emitted in all directions by greenhouse gas molecules and clouds. The effect of this is to warm the Earth&#8217;s surface and the lower atmosphere. \u00a0BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_32428\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Greenhouse_effect_005_RGB-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"BGS \u00a9 UKRI\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Greenhouse_effect_005_RGB-960x446.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>The greenhouse effect: some of the infrared radiation from the Sun passes through the atmosphere, but most is absorbed and re-emitted in all directions by greenhouse gas molecules and clouds. The effect of this is to warm the Earth&#8217;s surface and the lower atmosphere. \u00a0BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Greenhouse_effect_005_RGB-1400x651.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;The greenhouse effect: some of the infrared radiation from the Sun passes through the atmosphere, but most is absorbed and re-emitted in all directions by greenhouse gas molecules and clouds. The effect of this is to warm the Earth&#8217;s surface and the lower atmosphere. \u00a0BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_32428\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>A greenhouse gas is called that because it absorbs infrared radiation from the Sun in the form of heat, which is circulated in the atmosphere and eventually lost to space. Greenhouse gases also increase the rate at which the atmosphere can absorb short-wave radiation from the Sun, but this has a much weaker effect on global temperatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The CO<sub>2<\/sub> released from the burning of&nbsp;fossil fuels&nbsp;is accumulating as an insulating blanket around the Earth, trapping more of the Sun&#8217;s heat in our atmosphere. Actions carried out by humans are called anthropogenic actions; the anthropogenic release of CO<sub>2<\/sub> contributes to the current&nbsp;enhanced greenhouse effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"which\"><strong>Which gases cause the greenhouse\neffect? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The contribution that a greenhouse gas makes to the greenhouse effect depends on how much heat it absorbs, how much it re-radiates and how much of it is in the atmosphere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In descending order, the gases that contribute most to the Earth\u2019s greenhouse effect are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>water vapour (H<sub>2<\/sub>O)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2<\/sub>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>nitrous oxide(N<sub>2<\/sub>O)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>methane (CH<sub>4<\/sub>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ozone (O<sub>3<\/sub>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of the amount of heat these gases can absorb and re-radiate (known as their global warming potential or GWP), CH<sub>4<\/sub> is 23 times more effective and N<sub>2<\/sub>O is 296 times more effective than CO<sub>2<\/sub>. However, there is much more CO<sub>2<\/sub> in the Earth\u2019s atmosphere than there is CH<sub>4<\/sub> or N<sub>2<\/sub>O.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all the greenhouse gas that we emit to the atmosphere remains there indefinitely. For example, the amount of CO<sub>2<\/sub>&nbsp;in the atmosphere and the amount of CO<sub>2<\/sub>&nbsp;dissolved in surface waters of the oceans stay in equilibrium, because the air and water mix well at the sea surface. When we add more CO<sub>2<\/sub>&nbsp;to the atmosphere, a proportion of it dissolves into the oceans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"anthropogenic\">Anthropogenic greenhouse gases <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since the start of the Industrial Revolution in the mid-18th century, human activities have greatly increased the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Consequently, measured atmospheric concentrations of CO<sub>2<\/sub> are many times higher than pre-industrial levels. <\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/overview-of-greenhouse-gases-2019-caption-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"Overview of global man-made greenhouse gas\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/overview-of-greenhouse-gases-2019-caption-816x960.jpg\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Overview of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in 2017; figures here are expressed in CO2-equivalents. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990-2015 (EPA, 2017).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Main sources of anthropogenic greenhouse gases <\/h3>\n\n\n<div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Burning fossil fuels <\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Carbon dioxide levels are substantially higher now than at any time in the last 750\u00a0000 years. The burning of fossil fuels has elevated CO<sub>2<\/sub> levels from an atmospheric concentration of approximately 280 parts per million (ppm) in pre-industrial times to over 400 ppm in 2018. This is a 40 per cent increase since the start of the Industrial Revolution.<\/p>\n<p>CO<sub>2<\/sub> concentrations are increasing at a rate of about 2\u20133 ppm\/year and are expected to exceed 900\u00a0ppm by the end of the 21st century.<\/p>\n<p>If this continues, together with rising emissions of CH<sub>4<\/sub><sub>\u00a0<\/sub>and other greenhouse gases, by 2100 the global average surface temperature could have increased by up to 4.8\u00b0C compared to pre-industrial levels. Consequently, some scientists suggest goals to limit concentrations to keep temperature change below +2\u00b0C.\u00a0 This would include substantial cuts in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions by the middle of the 21st century through large-scale changes in energy systems and land use.<\/p>\n<p>In 2010, the burning of coal, natural gas and oil for electricity and heat was the largest single source of global greenhouse gas emissions (25 per cent). By comparison, in 2010, 14 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions came from fossil fuels burned for road, rail, air and marine transportation.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Agriculture, forestry and other land use<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Agriculture, deforestation and other changes in land use account for one quarter of net anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. According to a United Nations report, livestock is responsible for about 14.5 per cent of this. The main sources of emissions are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>feed production and processing (45 per cent)<\/li>\n<li>outputs of greenhouse gases during digestion by cows (39 per cent)<\/li>\n<li>manure decomposition (10 per cent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The rest is attributable to the processing and transportation of animal products.<\/p>\n<p>Higher concentrations of atmospheric CH<sub>4 <\/sub>are also caused by changes in land and wetland use, pipeline losses and landfill emissions. The use of fertilisers can also lead to higher N<sub>2<\/sub>O concentrations.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-26976\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Deforestation-960x497.jpg\" alt=\"Agriculture is estimated to be the main driver for around 80% of deforestation worldwide.\" width=\"960\" height=\"497\" data-wp-editing=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Deforestation-960x497.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Deforestation-768x398.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Deforestation.jpg 1332w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Agriculture is estimated to be the main driver for around 80\u00a0per\u00a0cent of deforestation worldwide. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/deforestation-environment-forest-forestry-511369\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pixabay<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Cement manufacture <\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Cement manufacture contributes CO<sub>2<\/sub> to the atmosphere when calcium carbonate is heated, producing lime and CO<sub>2<\/sub>.<\/p>\n<p>Estimates vary, but it is widely accepted that the cement industry produces between five and eight per\u00a0cent of global anthropogenic CO<sub>2 <\/sub>emissions, of which 50 per cent is produced from the chemical process itself and 40 per\u00a0cent from burning fuel to power that process. The amount of CO<sub>2<\/sub> emitted by the cement industry is more than 900\u00a0kg of CO<sub>2<\/sub> for every 1000\u00a0kg of cement produced.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27147\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27147\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-27147\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Cement-960x497.jpg\" alt=\"A cement works in Clitheroe. The cement industry produces around 5 per cent of global man-made CO2 emissions. Photo by Alan Murray-Rust.\" width=\"960\" height=\"497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Cement-960x497.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Cement-768x398.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Cement.jpg 1332w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27147\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A cement works in Clitheroe. The cement industry produces around five per cent of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions. \u00a9 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geograph.org.uk\/photo\/4480134\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alan Murray-Rust<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Aerosols <\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Aerosols are small particles suspended in the atmosphere that can be produced when we burn fossil fuels. Other anthropogenic sources of aerosols include pollution from cars and factories, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used in refrigeration systems and CFCs and halons used in fire suppression systems and manufacturing processes. Aerosols can also be produced naturally from a number of natural processes e.g. forest fires, volcanoes and isoprene emitted from plants.<\/p>\n<p>We know that greenhouse gases provide a warming effect to Earth\u2019s surface, but aerosol pollution in the atmosphere can counteract this warming effect. For example, sulphate aerosols from fossil fuel combustion exert a cooling influence by reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth.<\/p>\n<p>Aerosols also have a detrimental impact on human health and affect other parts of the climate system, such as rainfall.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27153\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27153\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-27153\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Volcanic-Ash-960x497.jpg\" alt=\"Volcanic ash dunes of Tarvurvur, Papua New Guinea.\" width=\"960\" height=\"497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Volcanic-Ash-960x497.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Volcanic-Ash-768x398.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Volcanic-Ash.jpg 1332w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27153\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Volcanic ash dunes of Tarvurvur, Papua New Guinea. Sea salt, dust and volcanic ash are three common types of aerosols. Aerosols directly scatter and absorb radiation. The scattering of radiation causes atmospheric cooling, whereas absorption can cause atmospheric warming. Source: \u00a9 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/tjt195\/3559417932\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Taro Tayler<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<section   id=\"latest-content-1260-block_41206a827bf2b8aab72a7eb31ccc6b01\" class=\"grid-section  primary-background   \" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row header-of-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>You may also be interested in<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row grid-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/feature_homepage_p815563-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Ammonite p815563\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/feature_homepage_p815563.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/\">Discovering Geology<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Discovering Geology introduces a range of geoscience topics to school-age students and learners of all ages.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/feature_climate_P912184-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Iceberg P912184\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/feature_climate_P912184.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/\">Discovering Geology: climate change<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>What is the difference between weather and climate? what causes the Earth&#8217;s climate to change and what are the impacts? Find out more with our Discovery Geology climate change resources.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/what-causes-the-earths-climate-to-change\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/feature_Icelandic_glacier_P912193-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Skaftafellsj\u00f6kull Glacier\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/feature_Icelandic_glacier_P912193.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/what-causes-the-earths-climate-to-change\/\">What causes the Earth&#8217;s climate to change?<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Geological records demonstrate that there have been a number of large variations in Earth\u2019s climate in the past.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/what-causes-the-earths-climate-to-change\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/impacts-of-climate-change\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Sandstone-Feature-Image-150x150.png\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Sandstone coloured red with iron oxides, indicating a hot climate at the time of deposition.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Sandstone-Feature-Image.png\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/impacts-of-climate-change\/\">Impacts of climate change<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Temperature rises can affect agriculture, sea levels and the frequency of extreme weather incidents. We can study past climate change by looking at the evidence in rocks, fossils and changes in the landscape.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/impacts-of-climate-change\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/the-carbon-story\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Carbon-cycle-feature-150x150.png\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Thawing permafrost in Herschel Island, 2013. Source: Boris Radosavljevic.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Carbon-cycle-feature.png\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/the-carbon-story\/\">The carbon story<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The carbon cycle describes the process in which carbon atoms continually travel from the atmosphere into the Earth, then released back into the atmosphere. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/the-carbon-story\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/carbon-capture-and-storage\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/CCS-Feature-150x150.png\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Gasometer.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/CCS-Feature.png\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/carbon-capture-and-storage\/\">Understanding carbon capture and storage<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Carbon capture and storage involves capturing carbon dioxide at emission sources, such as power stations, then transporting and storing it underground. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/carbon-capture-and-storage\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/what-are-we-doing-about-climate-change\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/WhatWereDoing-Feature-1-150x150.png\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"What are we doing about climate change?\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/WhatWereDoing-Feature-1.png\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/what-are-we-doing-about-climate-change\/\">What are we doing about climate change?<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>BGS is committed to research aimed at slowing down the effects of a changing climate, whilst helping society to become resilient to climate change. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/what-are-we-doing-about-climate-change\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gases in the Earth&#8217;s atmosphere act as an insulating blanket around the planet, trapping more of the Sun\u2019s heat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":47959,"parent":1336,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"on","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"greenhouse effect, greenhouse gas","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"33925,9939,16673,17336,17361,9189","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.3 - 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