How Many Greenhouse Gases Are There — Reading Comprehension

The Earth’s atmosphere has a natural blanket of gases that trap heat from the sun. This process is called the greenhouse effect, and it keeps our planet warm enough for living things to survive. A greenhouse gas is any gas in the atmosphere that absorbs and traps this heat. While there are many types of these gases, some are more common and have a bigger impact on global temperatures.

The most common and important greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2​). It's released when we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas for electricity, heat, and transportation. Methane (CH4​) is another powerful greenhouse gasthat comes from natural sources like wetlands and human activities like farming and landfills. Nitrous oxide (N2​O) is mainly released from agricultural activities, like the use of fertilizers.

Other greenhouse gases include water vapor (H2​O), which is the most abundant, and a group of human-made gases called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). While water vapor is a natural part of our climate, the other gases have been increasing in our atmosphere, especially over the last century. This rise in these gases is the main factor causing the rise in global temperatures.

Scientists use evidence like ice cores and weather station data to clarify the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures. When greenhouse gases increase, they trap more heat, which makes the planet warmer. This is why it's so important to understand the different types of greenhouse gases and where they come from, as human activities have caused a significant increase in their concentration, affecting our climate.

Fun Fact: While carbon dioxide is the most well-known greenhouse gas, methane is about 25 times more effective at trapping heat over a 100-year period.

What is the most common greenhouse gas mentioned in the passage?

What is the name of the process that keeps the Earth warm?

What is a key human activity that releases carbon dioxide?

What effect does an increase in greenhouse gases have on the planet?

How do scientists find evidence about past temperatures?

A country decides to switch from coal-fired power plants to solar energy. Which greenhouse gas would this most likely reduce?

A large-scale farming operation begins using a new type of fertilizer. What greenhouse gas might increase as a result?

If a scientist finds a high level of methane in the atmosphere, what is a likely source of this gas?