Greenhouse Gases

Water Vapor (H2O)

This is water in gas form. High in the atmosphere, it condenses back into liquid water and rains back on Earth. The water we drink is part of this natural cycle.

Blocks heat from escaping the atmosphere, and warmer air holds more of it. As Earth heats up, more water vapor can trap more heat.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Made up of carbon and oxygen, it's all around us naturally. It comes from decaying and living organisms, and from volcanoes.

It's released when burning fossil fuels like coal and oil. It's the most important contributor to human-caused global warming.

Methane (CH4)

It traps a lot of heat. Scientists consider it the second most important contributor to human-caused global warming of all the greenhouse gases.

Made of carbon and hydrogen, is a norma gas released from wetlands, growing rice, raising cattle, using natural gas, and mining coal.

Ozone (O3)

Close to the ground, it acts as a greenhouse gas, and can be formed by burning gas in cars and factories.

Up in the atmosphere where the planes fly, this layer blocks the sun's radiation, which helps protect us from the powerful rays.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

Is released by some types of factories, power plants, and plant fertilizers. It damages the protective ozone layer and is a powerful greenhouse gas.

It's a natural part of the nitrogen cycle. Bacteria in soil and the ocean make it.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Not created in nature. They damage the protective ozone layer and are powerful greenhouse gases.