Cause Of Present Warming: Principal Greenhouse Gases

Which are the main greenhouse gases?

• Water Vapor (H2O) : The most abundant greenhouse gas, but importantly, it acts as a feedback to the climate. Water vapor increases as the Earth's atmosphere warms, but so does the possibility of clouds and precipitation, making these some of the most important feedback mechanisms to the greenhouse effect

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) : Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), solid waste, trees and wood products, and also as a result of other chemical reactions (e.g., manufacture of cement). Carbon dioxide is also removed from the atmosphere (or “sequestered”) when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle or absorbed by the ocean which acts as a dumper

• Methane (CH4) : Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from livestock and other agricultural practices and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills

• Nitrous Oxides (NOX) : Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste

• Fluorinated Gases : Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride are synthetic, powerful greenhouse gases that are emitted from a variety of industrial processes. Fluorinated gases are sometimes used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (i.e., CFCs, HCFCs and halons). These gases are typically emitted in smaller quantities, but because they are potent greenhouse gases, they are sometimes referred to as High Global Warming Potential gases (“High GWP gases”)

Our understanding of the physical principals behind the greenhouse effect makes it undeniable that added man made greenhouse gases are causing most of the current warming and that the
temperature rise is proportional to the amount of GHG present in the atmosphere The burning of fossil fuel, which generates the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, is making the
greenhouse effect increasing stronger. One can imagine the earth as a planet surounded by a giant greenhouse (sphere of glass) and imagine what it would be like to live in such conditions. The addition of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere makes it behave more and more like a glass greenhouse. As a result of this process the earth is getting warmer and warmer.

Source of Information : Climate Change: A Silent Threat by Sylvain Richer de Forges

Cause Of Present Warming: Principal Greenhouse Gases