What phenomenon does the Greenhouse Effect describe?

The Greenhouse Effect refers to the process through which certain gases in the Earth's lower atmosphere trap heat, allowing the planet to maintain a temperature conducive to supporting life. When solar energy reaches the Earth, some of it is absorbed by the surface, while the rest is radiated back into space as infrared energy. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor, absorb this infrared radiation and re-radiate it in all directions, including back towards the Earth’s surface. This process is crucial because it maintains the Earth’s temperature at a level that sustains ecosystems and biodiversity. Without the Greenhouse Effect, the Earth's average temperature would be significantly lower, making it uninhabitable for most forms of life.

The other options describe processes and phenomena related to environmental science but do not define the Greenhouse Effect itself. For instance, while carbon capture and sequestration is a method aimed at reducing atmospheric CO2 levels, it is not the description of the Greenhouse Effect. Similarly, increased levels of carbon dioxide are a contributing factor to the enhancement of the Greenhouse Effect, but they do not encapsulate what the Greenhouse Effect is. The depletion of the ozone layer pertains to a different environmental issue, specifically the reduction of ozone in