In environmental science, the term Green House Effect refers to which of the following processes related to the Earth atmosphere?

Introduction / Context:
The Green House Effect is a fundamental concept in environmental science and climate studies. This question checks whether the learner understands the correct meaning of the term and can distinguish it from other unrelated phenomena, such as ozone layer protection or local pollution. Understanding the Green House Effect is essential for grasping issues like global warming, climate change, and energy balance on the Earth surface and in the atmosphere.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The term to be defined is Green House Effect.
• The options include explanations related to tropical house pollution, ozone layer function, trapping of solar energy, and damage to green buildings.
• We assume standard textbook definitions used in environmental science.

Concept / Approach:
The Green House Effect refers to the process by which certain gases in the Earth atmosphere trap heat. Incoming solar radiation reaches the Earth surface, which then emits infrared radiation back towards space. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapour absorb and re-radiate some of this heat, causing warming near the surface and lower atmosphere. The approach is to recall this definition and then choose the option that clearly describes this trapping of energy rather than unrelated ideas like ultraviolet blocking or local pollution.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Green House Effect is named by analogy with a greenhouse, where glass allows sunlight in but slows the escape of heat, leading to a warmer interior. Step 2: Understand that in the Earth atmosphere, gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapour play the role of greenhouse gases. Step 3: Identify that the main idea is trapping of outgoing infrared radiation, which leads to an increase in the temperature of the lower atmosphere and surface. Step 4: Examine the options and recognise that option C, which mentions trapping of solar energy due to atmospheric gases, best describes this effect in simple exam language. Step 5: Confirm that the other options refer to different phenomena, such as ozone layer protection from ultraviolet radiation or local pollution, and therefore do not match the definition of the Green House Effect.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify the meaning by remembering that discussion about global warming and climate change almost always refers to the Green House Effect. In those contexts, greenhouse gases are said to trap heat and enhance the natural Green House Effect, leading to higher average global temperatures. No standard environmental science textbook uses the term to refer to house pollution or paint damage, confirming that trapping of energy by atmospheric gases is the correct explanation.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Pollution in houses in tropical region: This describes indoor pollution and has no relation to the global atmospheric Green House Effect.
• Prevention of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer: This refers to the protective role of the ozone layer, not the Green House Effect.
• Damage to green painted buildings: This is not a recognised scientific process and is unrelated to climate science.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent confusion is between ozone layer depletion and the Green House Effect. Some learners mix up the role of ozone, which mainly protects from ultraviolet radiation, with greenhouse gases, which trap infrared radiation and cause warming. Another mistake is to interpret the term too literally as something related to green coloured houses or buildings. To avoid these pitfalls, always connect the Green House Effect to heat trapping, greenhouse gases, and global temperature rise.

Final Answer:
The Green House Effect is best described as the trapping of solar energy by atmospheric gases leading to warming of the Earth.