Greenhouse warming

Greenhouse gases are gases in the Earth's atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone.

Overview

Greenhouse gases greatly affect the temperature of the Earth; without them, Earth's surface would average about 33°C colder than the present average of 15 °C. In the Solar System, the atmospheres of Venus, Mars, and Titan also contain gases that cause greenhouse effects.

Types of Greenhouse Gases

Water Vapor

Water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas and is the largest contributor to the natural greenhouse effect, despite having a short atmospheric lifetime. Some human activities can influence local water vapor levels. However, on a global scale, the concentration of water vapor is controlled by temperature, which influences overall levels of evaporation and precipitation.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the second most abundant greenhouse gas. Natural sources include decomposition of dead organisms, the respiration of animals, and evaporation from the oceans. Human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, have dramatically increased its concentration in the atmosphere.

Methane

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential more than 25 times greater than that of carbon dioxide on a 100-year timescale. Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, oil, and natural gas. It is also emitted by livestock and other agricultural practices and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is a powerful greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 298 times greater than carbon dioxide for a 100-year timescale. It is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and biomass.

Ozone

Ozone (O3) is a greenhouse gas that is not directly emitted by human activities, but is formed by sunlight acting on nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the air. These gases are emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources.

Impact on Climate Change

Greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to a warming of the planet. This phenomenon, known as climate change, has a range of negative effects, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and threats to human health.