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Greenhouse Gases

T he GHGs present in our atmosphere have supported the existence of life on Earth. These gases trap solar heat within the Earth’s atmosphere and allow its temperature to be warmer and more stable. The most common GHGs are methane, CO 2 , nitrogen oxides (NOx), and fluorinated gases (F-gases). GHGs act like a blanket and keep the Earth’s temperature thirty degrees warmer than it would be otherwise.

Constitution GHGs constitute only 1 percent of the total atmosphere. The rest of the atmosphere comprises oxygen and nitrogen. Some of the GHGs occur naturally within the atmosphere such as water vapor, while the others such as chlorofluorocarbons are released due to human activ- ities. Different GHGs have different durations in the atmosphere and different warming capabilities.

CLIMATE CHANGE: Problems and Progress

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