Conditions and Diseases
Global Warming
Earth Sciences
Are greenhouse gases affecting the earth?
Wiki User
2012-11-19 04:25:17
At present man-made greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2) and
methane, are adding to the greenhouse effect. The natural carbon
cycle is unable to cope with the extra CO2 which remains in the
atmosphere gathering heat, and causing global warming.
Less than 1% of the gases in Earth's atmosphere are called
greenhouse gases. Even though they are not very abundant, these
greenhouse gases have a major effect.
Carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor (H2O), methane (CH4), nitrous
oxide (N2O), and a few other gases are greenhouse gases. They all
are molecules composed of three or more atoms, bound loosely enough
together to be able to vibrate when they absorb heat. Eventually,
the vibrating molecule will emit the radiation again, and it will
likely be absorbed by yet another greenhouse gas molecule. This
process is called the greenhouse effect and keeps heat near the
Earth's surface.
All of the green house gases that are mentioned in the above
answer are not necessarily man made. They are all natural gases in
our environment. The jury is still out on whether we make enough to
cause severe climate change as is claimed.
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