Question

How do greenhouse gases contribute to global warming?

Hint:

Excess greenhouse gases trap heat, leading to climate change and global warming.

Answer 1

Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and water vapor absorb heat within Earth's atmosphere. Sunlight can pass through, but heat is prevented from escaping back into space. This natural phenomenon is termed the greenhouse effect. Human actions, including the combustion of fossil fuels, forest clearing, and industrial releases, have elevated the concentration of these gases. This amplification of the greenhouse effect results in an increase in Earth's mean temperature, a process called global warming.