What is the greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect is a process in which thermal radiation is absorbed by atmospheric gases and is re-radiated in all directions. This causes temperature to rise above normal temperatures. Solar radiation at the frequencies of visible light largely passes through the atmosphere to warm planetary surface, which emits this energy to the surface and our lower atmosphere. The mechanism was is names after the effect of solar radiation passing through glass warming a greenhouse. Earths natural greenhouse gases make life possible to live with out it there would be no life on this planet.
How greenhouse gases work
The earth gets energy by the suns UV, Visible and near IR. Most of the energy passes through the atmosphere without being absorbed. The atmosphere absorbs about 30% and reflects about 20% and the other 50% actually hits earths surface. The best greenhouse gas is methane because it traps heat better then any other gas. The reason for this is because its structure is built to trap heat no matter what side it is facing as seen in the picture below.
What's the big deal about Greenhouse Gases?
Greenhouse gases traps heat so the temperature on earths surface increases causing major climate changes and since the temperature is changing so rapidly animals would have a hard time adapting maybe leading to a extinction crisis. If we don't do anything we could be extinct as we know it. The future causes of global warming can be spreading of diseases, Floods and droughts, Economy disasters, and population risks as well as unsustainable development.
Greenhouse gases are not just on Earth
Other planets in the solar system also have greenhouse gases like Mars and Venus as well as Venuses moon Titan all have greenhouse gases in their atmosphere especially Venus because it's atmosphere has heavy carbon dioxide.