Final answer:
The majority of natural greenhouse warming is contributed by water vapor, which accounts for about 80 percent of the effect, while the rest is due to other gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. Water vapor's abundance and ability to absorb and emit thermal radiation make it a crucial component of the Earth's temperature regulation through the greenhouse effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Primary Greenhouse Gas in the Natural Greenhouse Effect
The atmospheric component that naturally contributes to the majority of greenhouse warming on Earth is water vapor. While there are several greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone, water vapor is responsible for about 80 percent of the natural greenhouse effect. The remaining contribution comes from the other greenhouse gases, with carbon dioxide being a significant component of the remaining percentage.
The greenhouse effect plays a crucial role in maintaining the Earth's temperature by trapping heat in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases absorb thermal (infrared) radiation from the Earth's surface and re-radiate it, keeping the planet warm enough to sustain life. Since water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas, it has a substantial effect on the Earth's atmospheric temperature.
Although natural levels of water vapor are regulated by temperature through rates of evaporation and precipitation, human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation have increased levels of other greenhouse gases. This anthropogenic increase enhances the greenhouse effect, leading to global warming and climate change.