Greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are the gases in the atmosphere that raise the surface temperature of planets such as the Earth. What distinguishes them from other gases is that they absorb the wavelengths of radiation that a planet emits, resulting in the greenhouse effect.[1] The Earth is warmed by sunlight, causing its surface to radiate heat, which is then mostly absorbed by greenhouse gases. Without greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the average temperature of Earth's surface would be about −18 °C (0 °F),[2] rather than the present average of 15 °C (59 °F).[3][4]
This article is about the physical properties of greenhouse gases. For how human activities are adding to greenhouse gases, see Greenhouse gas emissions.
The five most abundant greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere, listed in decreasing order of average global mole fraction, are:[5][6] water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone. Other greenhouse gases of concern include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs and HCFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons, SF
6, and NF
3. Water vapor causes about half of the greenhouse effect, but humans are not directly adding to its amount,[7] so it is not a driver of climate change.[8]
Human activities since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution (around 1750) have increased carbon dioxide by over 50%,[9], and methane levels by 150%.[10] Carbon dioxide emissions are causing about three-quarters of global warming, while methane emissions cause most of the rest.[11] The vast majority of carbon dioxide emissions by humans come from the burning of fossil fuels,[12] with remaining contributions from agriculture and industry.[13]: 687 Methane emissions originate from agriculture, fossil fuel production, waste, and other sources.[14] The carbon cycle takes thousands of years to fully absorb CO2 from the atmosphere,[15] while methane lasts in the atmosphere for an average of only 12 years.[16]
Natural flows of carbon happen between the atmosphere, terrestrial ecosystems, the ocean, and sediments. These flows have been fairly balanced over the past 1 million years,[17] although greenhouse gas levels have varied widely in the more distant past. Carbon dioxide levels are now higher than they have been for 3 million years.[18] If current emission rates continue then global warming will surpass 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) sometime between 2040 and 2070. This is a level which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says is "dangerous".[19]
