The Sun's rays travel through the atmosphere in the form of Short Wave radiation, and are then absorbed by the ground. Short wave radiation cannot be stopped by greenhouse gases such as Carbon Dioxide and Methane. When the earth heats due to the absorbed Short Wave radiation it re-radiates this warmth back out into the atmosphere. This is the part where 'Greenhouse Gases' such as Carbon Dioxide play a role. The heat which is radiated back into the atmosphere can do one of two things. It can:

1. escape back into space
2. Be absorbed by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide

Now the 'Greenhouse' effect has been given a bad name over the years but without it we would almost certainly not be here, without this process the average temperature on the earth's surface would be -18*C but due to this effect the average surface temperature which we have today is +15*C!
   The problem which could be caused by the greenhouse effect is when to many greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. For example too much heavy industry would need a lot of coal to burn for energy, this releases a lot of carbon dioxide.
   The problem with too much of these gases is that they act like a heat 'sponge' absorbing all the heat that is trying to escape into space, this in turn warms our atmosphere, which is good at a moderate level but too much of this process can cause large temperature rises giving humans difficulties.
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