Home List Science The curation of this content is at the discretion of the author, and not necessarily reflective of the views of Encyclopaedia Britannica or its editorial staff. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult individual encyclopedia entries about the topics. Show Greenhouse gases are a hot topic (pun intended) when it comes to global warming. These gases absorb heat energy emitted from Earth’s surface and reradiate it back to the ground. In this way, they contribute to the greenhouse effect, which keeps the planet from losing all of its heat from the surface at night. The concentrations of various greenhouse gases in the atmosphere determine how much heat is absorbed by the atmosphere and reradiated back to the surface. Human activities—especially fossil-fuel combustion since the Industrial Revolution—are responsible for steady increases in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The five most significant gases are presented here.
Which is the most harmful 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.
What are the 3 top greenhouse gas contributors?Globally, the primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions are electricity and heat (31%), agriculture (11%), transportation (15%), forestry (6%) and manufacturing (12%).
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