Suppose Earth's atmosphere had no greenhouse gases.Then Earth's average surface temperature would be

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, water vapor and methane trap some of the heat radiated by the Earth's surface and re-emit it back, keeping the planet warm. If there were no greenhouse gases, then the Earth's surface temperature would be much colder, as more heat would escape into space. The average surface temperature of a planet is determined by the balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing thermal radiation. Without greenhouse gases, the balance would be shifted towards more outgoing radiation and the planet would cool significantly.

Suppose Earth's Atmosphere Had No Greenhouse Gases