Which of the following is a main greenhouse gas that is responsible for global warming?
Carbon Dioxide
The correct answer is Carbon Dioxide (CO2).
Greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to global warming. While several gases contribute to this effect, carbon dioxide is the most significant anthropogenic (human-caused) greenhouse gas. It's released through various human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy production, transportation, and industrial processes. Deforestation and other land-use changes also contribute to increased atmospheric CO2 levels.
Let's examine why the other options are incorrect:
- Nitrogen (N2): Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere, but it's not a significant greenhouse gas because it doesn't effectively absorb infrared radiation.
- Helium (He): Helium is a noble gas and is not considered a greenhouse gas.
- Oxygen (O2): Oxygen is essential for life, but it does not absorb infrared radiation and therefore doesn't contribute significantly to the greenhouse effect.
Therefore, the primary greenhouse gas responsible for global warming is carbon dioxide.
Important Questions from Ecology and Environment
Which day is celebrated as the World Environment Day?
The temperate grasslands of South Africa are called:
The 3 R’s to save the environment are:
The Living Root Bridges are a rare ecological phenomenon seen in which state of India?
Which of the following is NOT a consequence of deforestation?
