Question

What gases contribute the most to increasing the Greenhouse effect? What gases are the most effective greenhouse gases? Are these the same? Why or why not?

Answer 1

The gases that contribute the most to increasing the greenhouse effect are (in order of abundance) carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases (hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride).

Not all of these gases are equally effective. Some are more effective than other at making the planet warmer. This "effectiveness" is measured as the Global Warming Potential (GWP). This is calculated based on how long a gas remains in the atmosphere and how strongly it absorbs energy, when compared to CO2 (GWP of 1). For example, methane has a GWP of 28-36, Nitrous Oxide has a GWP of 265-298, while chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) have a GWP in the thousands or tens of thousands..)

Answer 2

The gases which contribute the most to the greenhouse effect are: Water vapor as consequence of evaporation, Carbon dioxide by the use of fossil fuels for industrial processes and the Metane which is found in fermentations produced by specialized anaerobic bacteria found in swampy areas, Nitrous oxide produced by massive use of nitrogen fertilizers, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which have multiple industrial uses in refrigeration systems and Tropospheric ozone cause by burning of polluting energy resources, being the most effective greenhouse gases: Carbon dioxide, Nitrous oxide and Chlorofluorocarbons.