Which gas is responsible for more than 90% of Earth's greenhouse effect?
Carbon dioxide (CO2) makes up the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions from the sector, but smaller amounts of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are also emitted. These gases are released during the combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, to produce electricity.
CO2 accounts for about 76 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Methane, primarily from agriculture, contributes 16 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and nitrous oxide, mostly from industry and agriculture, contributes 6 percent to global emissions.
The effect of greenhouse gases
Carbon dioxide is responsible for 53% of the level of global warming. It is the result of processes such as fuel use, deforestation and production of cement and other materials.
Sulfur hexafluoride is an extremely potent greenhouse gas that is used for several purposes when transmitting electricity through the power grid.
Methane and carbon dioxide make up 90 to 98% of landfill gas. The remaining 2 to 10% includes nitrogen, oxygen, ammonia, sulfides, hydrogen and various other gases. Landfill gases are produced when bacteria break down organic waste.
CO2 makes up only about 0.04% of the atmosphere, and water vapor can vary from 0 to 4%. But while water vapor is the dominant greenhouse gas in our atmosphere, it has “windows” that allow some of the infrared energy to escape without being absorbed.
Natural gas is an odorless, gaseous mixture of hydrocarbons—predominantly made up of methane (CH4).
Carbon dioxide is Earth's most important greenhouse gas: a gas that absorbs and radiates heat. Unlike oxygen or nitrogen (which make up most of our atmosphere), greenhouse gases absorb heat radiating from the Earth's surface and re-release it in all directions—including back toward Earth's surface.
Carbon dioxide is currently responsible for over 60% of the "enhanced" greenhouse effect, which is responsible for climate change. This gas occurs naturally in the atmosphere, but burning coal, oil, and natural gas is releasing the carbon stored in these "fossil fuels" at an unprecedented rate.
Cities and Pollution
Cities are major contributors to climate change. According to UN Habitat, cities consume 78 per cent of the world's energy and produce more than 60 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.
Which of the following gases are responsible for the 75% of the global warming effect?
Carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas that is most emitted through human activity, accounting for around 75% of human-caused emissions. The burning of fossil fuels, including natural gas, is the primary cause of CO2 emissions.
| Greenhouse gas | Chemical formula | |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon Dioxide | CO2 | 100* |
| Methane | CH4 | 12 |
| Nitrous Oxide | N O | 121 |
| Chlorofluorocarbon-12 (CFC-12) | CCl2F2 | 100 |
- Water Vapor.
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O)
- Fluorinated Gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF6)
- References and Resources.
Nitrogen and oxygen account for 99 percent of the gases in dry air, with argon, carbon dioxide, helium, neon, and other gases making up minute portions.
Nitrogen and oxygen are the two major constituents of the atmosphere gases. Complete answer: Nitrogen (78.084%) and Oxygen (20.947%) are the two major constituents that make up about 99% of the air.
Major Components of the Atmosphere
The Atmosphere has two main components: nitrogen(78%) and oxygen(21%). These make up 99% of the volume of "dry air".
NATURAL CO2 SOURCES
Oceans provide the greatest annual amount of CO2 of any natural or anthropogenic source. Other sources of natural CO2 include animal and plant respiration, decomposition of organic matter, forest fires, and emissions from volcanic eruptions.
Venus has the most massive atmosphere of the terrestrial planets, which include Mercury, Earth, and Mars. Its gaseous envelope is composed of more than 96 percent carbon dioxide and 3.5 percent molecular nitrogen.
Carbon dioxide (CO2 ) constitutes about 0.03% (300 parts per million) of the atmospheric gases. Whereas, nitrogen comprises 70% and oxygen 21% of the atmospheric gases.
The three greenhouse gases that are of most concern are Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), and Methane (CH4). 2. Greenhouse gases are naturally produced; however humans produce additional amounts of certain greenhouse gases.
Is carbon dioxide the worst greenhouse gas?
Atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide—the most dangerous and prevalent greenhouse gas—are at the highest levels ever recorded. Greenhouse gas levels are so high primarily because humans have released them into the air by burning fossil fuels.
Five key greenhouse gases are CO2, nitrous oxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons, and water vapor. While the Sun has played a role in past climate changes, the evidence shows the current warming cannot be explained by the Sun.
Carbon dioxide is the primary gas emitted, though fuel combustion also releases small amounts of methane and nitrous oxide, and vehicle air conditioning and refrigerated transport release fluorinated gases too.
Water vapor and clouds account for 66 to 85 percent of the greenhouse effect, compared to a range of 9 to 26 percent for CO2.
Air is mostly gas
The air in Earth's atmosphere is made up of approximately 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen. Air also has small amounts of other gases, too, such as carbon dioxide, neon, and hydrogen.
The Sun is a huge, glowing sphere of hot gas. Most of this gas is hydrogen(about 70%) and helium (about 28%). Carbon, nitrogen and oxygen make up 1.5% and the other 0.5% is made up of small amounts of many other elements such as neon, iron, silicon, magnesium and sulfur.
According to education site Vision Learning (opens in new tab) Earth's atmosphere is composed of approximately 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, 0.93 percent Argon, 0.04 percent carbon dioxide as well as trace amounts of neon, helium, methane, krypton, ozone and hydrogen, as well as water vapor.
Global Emissions by Economic Sector
Electricity and Heat Production (25% of 2010 global greenhouse gas emissions): The burning of coal, natural gas, and oil for electricity and heat is the largest single source of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Earth's greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere and warm the planet. The main gases responsible for the greenhouse effect include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor (which all occur naturally), and fluorinated gases (which are synthetic).
| Greenhouse gas | Chemical formula | Global Warming Potential, 100-year time horizon |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon Dioxide | CO2 | 1 |
| Methane | CH4 | 25 |
| Nitrous Oxide | N O | 265 |
| Chlorofluorocarbon-12 (CFC-12) | CCl2F2 | 10,200 |
What are the 4 most important greenhouse gases today?
Major greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and various synthetic chemicals. Carbon dioxide is widely reported as the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas because it currently accounts for the greatest portion of the warming associated with human activities.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an important heat-trapping gas, or greenhouse gas, that comes from the extraction and burning of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas), from wildfires, and from natural processes like volcanic eruptions.
Carbon dioxide is the single most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, accounting for approximately 66% of the warming effect on the climate, mainly because of fossil fuel combustion and cement production.