Question

Which of the following statements about greenhouse gases and their impact on global warming are true?

1. Methane (CH4) has a much higher heat-trapping potential than carbon dioxide
2. Water vapor is a greenhouse gas
3. Greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit infrared radiation, trapping heat in the atmosphere.

• A. All of these
• B. ii, iii
• C. None of these
• D. iii only

Answer 1

Answer:

A. All of these

Greenhouse gases

• They are a group of naturally occurring and human-made gases present in the Earth's atmosphere.
• They play a critical role in regulating the Earth's temperature by trapping heat from the sun and preventing it from escaping into space.
• Greenhouse gases include :
  • Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
  • Methane
  • Water Vapor (H2O)
  • Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
  • Fluorinated gases including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
  • Ozone (O3)
    
    
• Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a higher heat-trapping potential compared to carbon dioxide on a per molecule basis.
• It is present in the atmosphere in lower concentrations than CO2.
• Methane is released through natural processes like wetlands and also from human activities such as agriculture and the production of fossil fuels.