ABSTRACT
The earth has an atmosphere which acts like a blanket that traps heat from solar radiation coming to the earth from the sun. The average surface temperature of the earth is 15°C. If there were no atmosphere, the surface temperature of the earth can be calculated to be -19°C. This is confirmed from the surface temperature of the moon, which receives the same amount of solar radiation as the earth but has no atmosphere. This warming of the earth is the so-called greenhouse effect. The effect is a good thing because it maintains life on earth in a viable and comfortable condition.
