German NOUN B2 Rank 27293

der Treibhauseffekt

greenhouse effect

der Treibhauseffekt, die Treibhauseffekte

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Meanings

der Treibhauseffekt

greenhouse effect

The warming of the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere because certain gases in the atmosphere retain some of the heat radiation emitted by the Earth. This natural effect makes the Earth habitable in the first place; human emissions intensify it.

EXAMPLE

Der Treibhauseffekt wird durch den hohen Ausstoß von Kohlendioxid und anderen Treibhausgasen verstärkt.

The greenhouse effect is intensified by the high emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Forms

Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Treibhauseffekt, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.

At a glance

gender	masculine der
plural	die Treibhauseffekte
genitive	des Treibhauseffektes

The four cases

	singular	plural
nominative	der Treibhauseffekt	die Treibhauseffekte
accusative	den Treibhauseffekt	die Treibhauseffekte
dative	dem Treibhauseffekt	den Treibhauseffekten
genitive	des Treibhauseffektes des Treibhauseffekts	der Treibhauseffekte

The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.

Usage tips

Word composition

'Treibhauseffekt' (greenhouse effect) is made up of 'Treibhaus' (greenhouse) and 'Effekt' (effect). A 'Treibhaus' (greenhouse) is a building where plants grow under a warm glass or plastic covering; the term therefore describes, figuratively, warming caused by a protective covering.

EXAMPLE

Ohne den natürlichen Treibhauseffekt wäre die Erde deutlich kälter.

Without the natural greenhouse effect, the Earth would be considerably colder.

Typical collocations

Common collocations include 'den Treibhauseffekt verstärken' (to intensify the greenhouse effect), 'den Treibhauseffekt reduzieren' (to reduce the greenhouse effect), and 'zum Treibhauseffekt beitragen' (to contribute to the greenhouse effect). Specific greenhouse gases and human emissions are often mentioned as causes.

EXAMPLE

Der Verkehr trägt durch seine Emissionen zum Treibhauseffekt bei.

Through its emissions, traffic contributes to the greenhouse effect.

Technical context

The word is used primarily in scientific, political, and journalistic texts. A distinction is often made between the natural greenhouse effect and the form intensified by human activities.

EXAMPLE

Im Unterricht lernten die Schülerinnen und Schüler, welche Rolle der natürliche Treibhauseffekt für das Leben auf der Erde spielt.

In class, the students learned about the role the natural greenhouse effect plays in life on Earth.

In real life

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