Heating effect produced by certain gases (e.g.
CO2,
O3, etc.), which by virtue of their characteristic infrared absorption, lower the earth to space transmission of long wavelength radiation but allow transmission of shorter wavelength radiation inward from the sun to the earth.
Source:
PAC, 1990, 62, 2167. 'Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990)' on page 2192 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199062112167)