How does global warming differ from the greenhouse effect?

Global warming and the greenhouse effect are closely related concepts but they refer to different processes.

The greenhouse effect is a natural process by which certain gases in Earth's atmosphere, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), trap heat from the sun. These gases allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere freely, but when the sunlight strikes the Earth's surface and is reflected back as infrared radiation (heat), these gases absorb and re-emit the infrared radiation. This process keeps Earth’s climate warm enough to sustain life. Without the greenhouse effect, our planet would be too cold for life as we know it.

Global warming, on the other hand, refers to the recent and ongoing rise in global average temperature near Earth’s surface. It is primarily caused by human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, deforestation, and various industrial processes, which increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This enhanced greenhouse effect leads to an increase in the Earth's average surface temperature, which is what is known as global warming. Global warming is a component of the broader phenomenon of climate change, which includes not only rising temperatures but also extreme weather events, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and shifts in wildlife populations and habitats.