Montreal Protocol
Phased out the production of CFCs worldwide.
Landfills
Low-oxygen environments in these can leader to anaerobic decomposition and production of CH4
.
Fossil fuels
Accounts for approximately 94% of all CO2 emissions.
Deforestation
This can lead to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide.
HCFCs
Less harmful to the environment but still have very high greenhouse warming potentials.
Methane
Livestock digestion produces the greatest amount of this gas followed by landfills.
Agricultural soils
Can release nitrous oxide from the addition of synthetic fertilizers.
Particulate matter
Black soot may reflect solar radiation under some conditions
Volcanic eruptions
The release of dust can actually have a major effect on global temperatures by reflecting incoming solar radiation back out into space, thereby cooling Earth.
Water vapor
The amount of this gas varies with climate.
Termite mounds
Collectively can produce large amounts of methane that were generated by gut bacteria as a by-product of digestion
Methane
Wetlands are the largest natural source of this gas.
Oil
Burning this fossil fuel produces an intermediate amount of carbon dioxide emissions
Denitrification
Occurs in the low-oxygen environments of wet soils and at the bottoms of wetlands, lakes and oceans. In these environments, nitrate is converted to this which then enters the atmosphere as a powerful
greenhouse gas.
Low albedo
Absorbs more solar radiation.
Coal
Burning this fossil fuel produces the most carbon dioxide.
Natural gas
Burning this fossil fuel produces the least amount of CO2 emission as compared with the others.
Global change
Change that occurs in the chemical, biological, and physical properties of the planet.
Global climate change
Changes in the climate of Earth.
Global warming
The warming of the oceans, landmasses, and atmosphere of Earth.
Deforestation
An anthropogenic activity that increases carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
El Ni�o
These events occur every 3 to 7 years and alter global patterns in temperature and precipitation.
Infrared radiation
The type of radiation Earth mostly emits.
Short-wave radiation
The high energy visible radiation and ultraviolet radiation that the strikes Earth.
Tuna
Women of child-bearing age and children are advised to not consume this top predator that bioaccumulates mercury and other toxins.
Mercury
This element bioaccumulates in fish caught thousands of kilometers away from the sources of pollution.
Polar bear
This animal has drawn attention to the effects of global warming.
Sun
Ultimate source of almost all energy on Earth.
Nitrous oxide
N2O
Ozone
In the lower troposphere this gas acts as a greenhouse gas and can cause increased warming of Earth, is also an air pollutant in the troposphere
Greenhouse effect
The absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases and reradiation of the energy back toward Earth.
Greenhouse gases
Gases in the atmosphere that absorb infrared radiation emitted by the surface of the planet and radiate much of it back toward the surface.
Water vapor
Most common greenhouse gas. Human activity appears to have little effect on this greenhouse gas.
O2
Is the second most abundant gas in the atmosphere.
CFCs
Have the highest global warming potential of any of the major greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse warming potential
Estimates how much a molecule of any compound can contribute to global warming over a period of 100 years relative to a molecule of CO2.
Methane
CH4
Carbon dioxide
Can remain in the atmosphere from years to hundreds of years.
N2
Most common gase in the atmosphere.