Briefly discuss the human-caused greenhouse gases in terms of their relative concentrations in the atmosphere and their relative contributions to global warming

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Several gases released by human activities into the atmosphere cause an enhanced greenhouse effect, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, and CFCs. Of these, carbon dioxide currently has the greatest concentration and the second greatest rate of increase (next to methane). Although carbon dioxide has a lower infrared absorption capability (on a per mole basis) compared to other greenhouse gases, it is the most abundant and thus has the greatest relative contribution to increasing the greenhouse effect. Methane concentration is increasing the fastest of these gases and has 25 times the infrared radiation absorption of carbon dioxide, but is currently three orders of magnitude lower in concentration. CFCs used as refrigerants and propellants have a disproportionately large absorptive effect, but are either stable or decreasing in concentration. Nitrous oxides are thought to be about 5% of the relative contribution to the increasing greenhouse effect.