Greenhouse Gases

As mentioned earlier, greenhouse gases trap heat and emit it very efficiently. This plays a crucial, but complicated role in energy balance. As greenhouse gases increase in concentration, the air will gradually warm. The warmer air will cause more surface water to evaporate, which may lead to the formation of more clouds. But these clouds could prevent sunlight from warming the earth. So although greenhouse gases may lead to global warming, they may also lead to more clouds, possibly negating the warming effects. This is but one interaction involved in the complex issue of energy balancing, one we do not fully understand.