The significance of the greenhouse effect for life on Earth is that it maintains the planet's temperature by trapping heat in the atmosphere. Solar energy penetrates the atmosphere and warms the Earth's surface, which then emits heat in the form of infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide absorb some of this heat, preventing it from escaping into space. While essential for sustaining life, an excess of these gases due to human activities leads to climate change, which poses serious threats to ecosystems and biodiversity.