Final answer:
Option A: Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide trap solar radiation in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect which warms the Earth's surface and atmosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are considered greenhouse gases because they trap solar radiation in the atmosphere. This phenomenon, known as the greenhouse effect, is akin to the way glass panels of a greenhouse allow sunlight to enter, but prevent the heat from escaping. These gases absorb the shorter wavelengths of solar radiation from the sun and re-emit it as longer infrared radiation, which is trapped and results in warming the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, are considered greenhouse gases because they trap solar radiation in the atmosphere. These gases act like the glass panels of a greenhouse, allowing shortwave radiation from the sun to enter but preventing the long-wave radiation of heat from escaping into space. This process is known as the greenhouse effect, and it is responsible for maintaining the Earth's average temperature within a range suitable for life.