How do greenhouse gases affect the climate? Explore the atmosphere during the ice age and today. What happens when you add clouds? Change the greenhouse gas concentration and see how the temperature changes. Then compare to the effect of glass panes. Zoom in and see how light interacts with molecules. Do all atmospheric gases contribute to the greenhouse effect? • Describe the effect of greenhouse gases and clouds on sunlight, infrared radiation, and surface temperature. • Explain why greenhouse gases affect the temperature. • Compare and contrast the behavior of sunlight and infrared radiation. • Describe radiative balance and use it to explain the relationship between the surface temperature and greenhouse gas concentration. • Compare the effect of greenhouse gases to the effect of infrared absorbing layers.