Glossary | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Greenhouse effect A thermodynamic effect whereby energy absorbed at the earth's surface, which is normally able to radiate back into space in the form of long-wave infrared radiation, is retained by gases in the atmosphere, causing a rise in temperature. The gases in question are partially natural, but manmade pollution is thought to increasingly contribute to the effect. The same CFCs that cause ozone depletion are known to be "greenhouse gases," with a single CFC molecule having the same estimated effect as 10,000 carbon dioxide molecules.   | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | State Information | Glossary | Conversion Checklist | Comments Home | Process Advisor | Alternatives | Links | Search All SAGE material, Copyright© 1992, Research Triangle Institute Last Update: 09 March 1999 sage@rti.org http://clean.rti.org/gloss.cfm?letter=G