Understanding the Runaway Greenhouse Effect

An overabundance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can lead to a runaway greenhouse effect, where the Earth's atmosphere traps heat from escaping into space, resulting in increased temperatures. As we burn fossil fuels, excess CO2 is released into the atmosphere, causing the planet to warm up. CO2 is efficient in absorbing infrared heat, leading to a warmer atmosphere. As Earth warms, it emits more radiated heat, but there is a limit to how much heat Earth can release. A positive feedback loop can occur where rising temperatures cause more water vapor to evaporate, further trapping heat in the atmosphere, ultimately resulting in a runaway greenhouse effect.