The phenomenon whereby the earth's atmosphere traps solar radiation, due to the presence of various atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane that allow incoming sunlight to pass through but absorb heat radiated back from the earth's surface.
Incoming solar radiations have shorter wavelength thus more penetrating power so they can reach the surface easily but the outgoing infrared radiations with higher wavelength possess less penetrating power. Hence outgoing radiations cannot escape the atmosphere and get trapped by the atmospheric gases. This increases the atmospheric temperature.
The natural greenhouse effect is important so as to maintain the temperature of earth’s surface to support the life.
