What are greenhouse gases?

Greenhouse gases are defined as gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat, which is a critical factor in regulating the planet's climate. These gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor, allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere but prevent some of the heat that the Earth radiates back into space from escaping. This greenhouse effect is essential for maintaining temperatures that can support life on Earth.

When the concentration of greenhouse gases increases, more heat is trapped, leading to a rise in global temperatures, commonly referred to as climate change. This phenomenon has significant implications for weather patterns, sea levels, and ecosystems around the world. Understanding the role of greenhouse gases is fundamental to grasping the challenges of climate change and environmental protection efforts.

The other options refer to different environmental processes or substances but do not accurately define greenhouse gases. It’s important to distinguish that while some natural gases can benefit plant growth, they are not specifically categorized as greenhouse gases. Pollutants causing acid rain are related to sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, while ozone-depleting substances have a different environmental impact related to the ozone layer rather than directly contributing to the greenhouse effect.