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Where shall I begin? To tell the story of a heat that isn't lost? -- compare Love Story
{{merge|greenhouse gas}}
{{merge|greenhouse gas}}
The '''greenhouse effect''' refers to the retention of heat by a planet's [[atmosphere]]. Like a botanical [[greenhouse]], it insulates the planet, but in a different way.
The '''greenhouse effect''' refers to the retention of heat by a planet's [[atmosphere]]. Although "greenhouse" is a handy analogy to a botanical [[greenhouse]], which insulates an indoor space by regulating convection, the atmosphere retains heat in a different way.
It happens because gas molecules absorb some of the heat radiating from the ground (see [[infrared radiation]]), so that it all doesn't escape into [[outer space]]. It was discovered in 1824 by [[Joseph Fourier]].
It happens because gas molecules absorb some of the heat radiating from the ground (see [[infrared radiation]]), so that it all doesn't escape into [[outer space]]. It was discovered in 1824 by [[Joseph Fourier]].