Greenhouse Gas

A Greenhouse Gas (pronunciation: /ˈɡriːnhaʊs ɡæs/) is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiant energy within the thermal infrared range, causing the Greenhouse Effect. The primary greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone.

Etymology

The term "Greenhouse Gas" is derived from the Greenhouse Effect, which itself is named for the ability of a greenhouse to trap heat, allowing for a controlled environment. This is similar to how these gases trap heat within the Earth's atmosphere.

Related Terms

Greenhouse Effect: The process by which radiation from a planet's atmosphere warms the planet's surface to a temperature above what it would be without this atmosphere.
Carbon Dioxide: A colorless and odorless gas that is vital to life on Earth. It is considered a greenhouse gas as it absorbs and emits infrared radiation.
Methane: A hydrocarbon that is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential most recently estimated at 28–36 over 100 years.
Nitrous Oxide: A powerful greenhouse gas and also a major ozone-depleting substance.
Ozone: A gas composed of three oxygen atoms. It is not usually emitted directly into the air, but at ground-level is created by a chemical reaction between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight.