greenhouse gases
Heat-trapping emissions
Greenhouse gases are atmospheric compounds that trap heat radiating from Earth's surface, creating a warming effect similar to glass panels in a greenhouse.
The most significant include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor.
While naturally occurring greenhouse gases make Earth habitable, human activities have dramatically increased their concentrations, driving climate change.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is central to international climate agreements.
Rising planetary temperatures
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- sea level riseIncreasing ocean surface height
- ocean acidificationSeawater pH dropping from CO2
- extreme weatherUnusual, dangerous atmospheric events
ice melt · glacial retreat · coral bleaching · heatwaves · droughts · wildfires · thermal expansion · feedback loops
Substances released into air
- fossil fuelsCombustible prehistoric organic deposits
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
- agricultureCultivation of land, livestock
livestock · landfills · rice paddies · coal mining · oil refineries · power plants · transportation · industrial processes
Respiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- nitrous oxideAnesthetic inhalant causing euphoria
- water vaporH₂O in gaseous state
- ozoneTriatomic oxygen allotrope
CFCs · HFCs · PFCs · chlorofluorocarbons · hydrofluorocarbons · parts per million
Collecting and storing emissions
- sequestrationAct of setting apart
- renewable energySelf-replenishing natural power
- energy efficiencyMinimizing wasted power
- afforestationIntroducing woods to treeless land
reforestation · carbon sink · carbon footprint · electric vehicles · clean technology · flue gas treatment · bioenergy · green hydrogen
Multinational emissions reduction treaty
- Paris AgreementGlobal warming limitation accord
- cap and tradeLimits plus tradable allowances
- emissions tradingMarket-based pollution control
- carbon taxLevy on fuel combustion
IPCC · carbon credits · offsets · net zero · decarbonization · emissions reduction · carbon budget · regulatory standards
global warming
Rising planetary temperatures
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- sea level riseIncreasing ocean surface height
- ocean acidificationSeawater pH dropping from CO2
extreme weather · ice melt · glacial retreat · coral bleaching · heatwaves · droughts · wildfires · thermal expansion · feedback loops · tipping points
emissions
Substances released into air
- fossil fuelsCombustible prehistoric organic deposits
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
agriculture · livestock · landfills · rice paddies · coal mining · oil refineries · power plants · transportation · industrial processes · refrigerants
carbon dioxide
Respiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- nitrous oxideAnesthetic inhalant causing euphoria
- water vaporH₂O in gaseous state
ozone · CFCs · HFCs · PFCs · chlorofluorocarbons · hydrofluorocarbons · parts per million
carbon capture
Collecting and storing emissions
- sequestrationAct of setting apart
- renewable energySelf-replenishing natural power
- energy efficiencyMinimizing wasted power
afforestation · reforestation · carbon sink · carbon footprint · electric vehicles · clean technology · flue gas treatment · bioenergy · green hydrogen
Kyoto Protocol
Multinational emissions reduction treaty
- Paris AgreementGlobal warming limitation accord
- cap and tradeLimits plus tradable allowances
- emissions tradingMarket-based pollution control
carbon tax · IPCC · carbon credits · offsets · net zero · decarbonization · emissions reduction · carbon budget · regulatory standards
- Climate Changeglobal warming, climate change, carbon dioxide, CO2, carbon emissions
- environmental scienceecology, air quality, ecosystem, water quality, ecosystems
- pollutionair pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, smog, toxic waste
- aviation pollutionaircraft noise, carbon emissions, contrails, emissions, engine emissions
- Climate Politicsclimate change, global warming, carbon tax, Paris Agreement, Kyoto Protocol
- environmental dataair quality index, climate data, carbon dioxide level, ozone level, weather data
greenhouse gasescarbon sinks
Systems absorbing atmospheric CO2
carbon sequestration · clean air · carbon capture · oxygen · fresh air
greenhouse gasesparticulates
Minute airborne solids or droplets
particulate matter · smog · aerosols · soot · dust
greens, gassy, greenhouse, greenery, greenness, greener, gaseous, greening, greenest