GEOLOGY

EARTH SCIENCE

CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Which of the following gases DOES NOT trap heat?
A
carbon dioxide
B
nitrogen
C
water vapor
D
methane
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Nitrogen, which makes up 80 % of Earth’s atmosphere, is not a greenhouse gas. This is because its molecules, which contain two atoms of the same element (nitrogen), are unaffected by infrared light.

Detailed explanation-2: -This process keeps heat near the Earth’s surface. Most of the gas in the atmosphere is nitrogen and oxygen, which cannot absorb heat and contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Detailed explanation-3: -These heat-trapping gases can be thought of as a blanket wrapped around Earth, keeping the planet toastier than it would be without them. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, and water vapor.

Detailed explanation-4: -Methane is more than 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Over the last two centuries, methane concentrations in the atmosphere have more than doubled, largely due to human-related activities.

Detailed explanation-5: -While both nitrogen and oxygen are important in supporting life on Earth, they are not greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and water vapor comprise a very small part of the lower atmosphere and are found only in trace amounts.

There is 1 question to complete.