when radiant energy from the sun reaches the gases and the earth's atmosphere like water vapor and carbon dioxide what happens to the gasses? what is this effect called?
When radiant energy from the sun reaches the gases in the Earth's atmosphere like water vapor and carbon dioxide, the gases absorb some of this energy. This absorption increases the average kinetic energy of the gas molecules, causing them to vibrate and emit some of the energy back in all directions, including back towards the Earth's surface.
This phenomenon is known as the greenhouse effect. The gases in the Earth's atmosphere that absorb and emit this radiant energy are called greenhouse gases, as they behave like the glass in a greenhouse by trapping heat within the Earth's atmosphere. This natural greenhouse effect plays a vital role in regulating the Earth's temperature, keeping it suitable for sustaining life. However, human activities such as burning fossil fuels have increased the concentration of greenhouse gases, intensifying the greenhouse effect and leading to global warming.