Typical greenhouse gases (GHGs) are those that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming. The most common greenhouse gases include:
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
The most significant greenhouse gas, which is primarily caused by human activities and remains for a long time (centuries) in the atmosphere. The excess CO2 traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to global warming. Below picture shows the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere over the last 800.000 years. Geological records indicate that CO2 levels have fluctuated about 180 ppm (parts per million) during ice ages and around 280 ppm during warmer interglacial periods. Prior to the industrial revolution (around 1750) atmospheric CO2 concentrations were relatively stable at around 280 ppm for thousands of years. Since then human activities such as burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), deforestation, agriculture, and industrial processes have significantly increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations to currently around 400 ppm, a level which has not been seen in 800.000 years and which is driving rapid climate change.
Methane (CH4)
Methane is another greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. It is emittedfrom sources such as livestock digestion, rice cultivation, natural gas production, andlandfills. Methane is much more potent (approx. 28x) than CO2 in terms of its ability totrap heat, although it persists in the atmosphere for a shorter time (approx 10 years).Since the industrial revolution methane levels have increased from around 700 ppb toaround 1800 ppb (parts per billion).
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
Nitrous oxide is a powerful greenhouse gas emitted primarily from agricultural activities,such as the use of synthetic fertilizers, livestock manure management, and biomassburning. It also comes from industrial processes and the combustion of fossil fuels.Nitrous oxide has a high global warming potential (approx 300x more potent than CO2)and can remain in the atmosphere for more than a century. An additional negative effectof N2O is that it also depletes the ozone layer. Since the industrial revolution N2O levelshave increased from around 270 ppb to around 320 ppb (parts per billion).
Fluorinated Gases
These are synthetic gases used in industrial applications, often as refrigerants or inelectronics manufacturing. Fluorinated gases are extremely potent greenhouse gases,often thousands to tens of thousands of times more effective than CO₂ at trapping heat,but they exist in smaller quantities.
Water vapor (H2O)
Water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, but its levels areprimarily influenced by temperature rather than direct human emissions. However, asthe Earth warms due to the increased concentrations of CO2 and other greenhousegases, the atmosphere can hold more water vapor, amplifying the greenhouse effectand further contributing to global warming.
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