Build up of heat caused by radiant energy being trapped in the earth's atmosphere is known as?

The correct answer is the greenhouse effect. This term specifically refers to the process by which certain gases in Earth's atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor, trap heat that radiates from the Earth's surface. When solar radiation reaches the Earth, some of it is absorbed and warms the planet. The Earth then emits this energy as infrared radiation, which these greenhouse gases can absorb, ultimately leading to an increase in atmospheric temperature.

Understanding the greenhouse effect is crucial, as it explains not only the natural processes that keep the Earth warm enough to support life, but also how human activities, like burning fossil fuels, are intensifying this effect, contributing to global warming.

Global warming, while related, refers specifically to the rise in average global temperatures caused by increased greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change encompasses a broader range of changes, including shifts in weather patterns and other long-term environmental effects, while atmospheric heating is a more general term that does not specifically identify the mechanism or cause associated with the trapping of heat by gases in the atmosphere.