The Greenhouse Effect

Our calculation left out the atmosphere, except that we included reflection of sunlight back into space from clouds.

The atmosphere can also warm Venus by absorbing infrared radiation and radiating it back to earth.

Here is an example.

The gasses that do this are called greenhouse gasses

• CO₂ (carbon dioxide).
• CH₄ (methane).
• NO₂ (nitrogen dioxide)
• chlorofluorocarbons. (Also eat ozone.)

Note that Venus has a thick CO₂ atmosphere. It's no wonder that it's really hot there.

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