Examples of Greenhouse Gases Found in the Atmosphere

Examples of Greenhouse Gases Found in the Atmosphere Are you looking for examples of greenhouse gases? Greenhouse gases are gases which are present in Earth’s atmosphere that act like a blanket, trapping heat and causing the temperature to rise on the planet. Without this effect, our planet would have an average surface temperature of -18 degrees Celsius (0 degrees Fahrenheit), rather than the current +15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit). The ability of these gases to trap heat is what scientists call their greenhouse effect – hence their name.

Carbon dioxide

The increased amount of carbon dioxide causes temperatures to rise on Earth – making it hotter overall – which leads to climate change. Carbon dioxide is one example of a greenhouse gas that can trap heat that would otherwise escape into space. When other gases are trapped along with it, even more heat gets absorbed. Other examples include methane and nitrous oxide.
Another example of a greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2). Plants use photosynthesis to turn sunlight and water into oxygen and sugar, which they need for energy. Oxygen is released back out as a by-product while CO2 stays behind inside them. Humans also breathe in oxygen and exhale CO2 when they breathe out, just like plants do. More people living than ever before means there’s more activity – from breathing to driving cars – producing CO2 than there has been previously. As time goes by, additional amounts of CO2 may be produced as natural resources get used up or when humans decide not to recycle materials properly.

Methane

-Methane is created when organic material decomposes in waterless conditions or by bacteria. This can happen naturally or as a result of human activity.
-Methane is colorless and odorless, making it difficult to detect without special equipment. It’s also lighter than air and travels easily from the ground into the atmosphere.
-Methane contributes to climate change because it absorbs heat and causes more energy from Earth’s surface to enter space as heat than would be emitted if there were no methane present. -Carbon dioxide: Carbon dioxide is one of the most abundant greenhouse gases found in the atmosphere, both due to its natural occurrence and as a result of human activities. Carbon dioxide makes up about 60% of the gas content in our atmosphere; all other atmospheric gases make up less than 5%.
-Nitrous oxide: Nitrous oxide has both natural and manmade sources. In nature, nitrous oxide emissions come from soil microbes that produce nitrous oxide as part of their life cycle.

Nitrous oxide

When it comes to greenhouse gases, nitrous oxide is actually one of the lesser known examples. It is also one of the most potent natural greenhouse gases. Nitrous oxide occurs as a result from chemical reactions between nitrogen and oxygen and is emitted by plants when they are exposed to air or water. One way humans can contribute to this problem, or any other for that matter, is when automobiles release nitrous oxide through their tailpipes. Nitrogen dioxide turns into nitrous oxide under certain conditions.

Ozone

The main problem with ozone today is that it reacts with other chemicals to form other gases like smog which are harmful to human health. Smog is created when air pollution mixes with sunlight and creates reactions that produce ground-level ozone, or smog. The reactions that create smog are made worse by cars and industrial plants which create emissions that react in sunlight to create ground level ozone, or smog. Industrial plants emit sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the atmosphere. Once emitted, SO2 has two ways it can be transformed into other chemicals: as a sulfate aerosol particle and as an acid gas (SO3). Sulfate aerosols cause cloud droplets to increase in size, leading to increased rainfall rates and cooler temperatures. Acid gas causes photosynthesis rates to slow down which decreases CO2 uptake by crops.

Water vapor

One greenhouse gas is water vapor. There is a lot of water vapor in the atmosphere, because it is constantly being evaporated from oceans, lakes, rivers and other sources. When this happens, it takes up more space than when it was liquid water. It also absorbs heat from Earth’s surface that would otherwise escape into space. This is why there are clouds – they are made up mostly of water vapor and ice crystals. Clouds reflect sunlight back to Earth’s surface instead of letting it go out into space where it might be absorbed by other greenhouse gases or cause heating.

Conclusion

If you’re wondering what these gases are and why they’re called greenhouse gases, then this list is for you. These gases contribute to climate change and can be found both on Earth and in outer space. Some examples include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and ozone. As you see from this list there are many kinds of greenhouse gases out there. It’s up to us to keep these gases at a minimum as we continue to search for more sustainable ways to power our lives.