greenhouse effect

Definition

The process by which a planet is heated by solar radiation which is retained by its atmosphere.

Etymology

First attested in 1901 by Swedish meteorologist Nils Gustaf Ekholm.

Example Sentences

• "Firstly, the atmosphere may act like the glass of a green-house, letting through the light rays of the sun relatively easy, and absorbing a great part of the dark rays emitted from the ground, and it thereby may raise the mean temperature of the earth's surface."
• "It is time to stop waffling so much and say that the evidence is pretty strong that the greenhouse effect is here."
• "This contrasts strangely with Mr. Bush's campaign oratory last summer. “Those who think we are powerless to do anything about the greenhouse effect forget about the ‘White House effect’; as President, I intend to do something about it,” he said in Michigan on Aug. 31. […] Mr. Bush has not acted."