This animation shows how a carbon dioxide molecule vibrates when it absorbs heat.
Courtesy of UCAR (LEARN and COMET)

Earth's Greenhouse Gases

Less than 1% of the gases in Earth's atmosphere are called greenhouse gases. Even though they are not very abundant, these greenhouse gases have a major effect.

Carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor (H2O), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and a few other gases are greenhouse gases. They all are molecules composed of three or more atoms, bound loosely enough together to be able to vibrate when they absorb heat. Eventually, the vibrating molecule will emit the radiation again, and it will likely be absorbed by yet another greenhouse gas molecule. This process is called the greenhouse effect and keeps heat near the Earth's surface.

Almost all of the other gases in Earth's atmosphere are nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2). The two atoms in these molecules are bound together tightly and unable to vibrate, so they do not absorb heat and contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Last modified February 1, 2010 by Randy Russell.

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Earth's Greenhouse Gases

Less than 1% of the gases in Earth's atmosphere are called greenhouse gases. Even though they are not very abundant, these greenhouse gases have a major effect. Carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor (H2O),...more

Carbon Dioxide - CO2

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Methane - CH4

Methane is gas that is found in small quantities in Earth's atmosphere. Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon, consisting of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas....more

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