What are greenhouse gases?

Greenhouse gases are like invisible blankets that keep Earth warm, just like a cozy quilt keeps you warm at night.

Imagine you're sitting outside on a sunny day. The Sun sends out heat, and it reaches Earth. Some of that heat goes back into space, but greenhouse gases catch some of it and hold it close to Earth, like a blanket.

Think of your kitchen when you’re cooking. You turn on the stove, and the heat makes the room warm. If you close the windows, the heat stays inside longer, that’s like what greenhouse gases do in the air. They trap the warmth from the Sun so Earth doesn’t get too cold at night.

Some common greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (like the bubbles in soda), methane (the gas that comes out when you let a cow burp), and water vapor (what makes clouds and rain). These gases are like friends who stay with Earth, helping it keep its warm temperature just right for life to thrive.