Greenhouse gases and atmospheric pollutants GapFill

Gases in the atmosphere which absorb energy radiated by Earth's surface are called  hothouse gasesvacuum gasesincubator gasesgreenhouse gases. They let short-wave radiation from the Sun pass through, but trap longer wavelength  infraredradiowavemicrowavegamma radiation emitted by Earth, thereby raising its  gravitytemperaturepressureradioactivity.

The main gases which are responsible for global warming are  carbon dioxideargonoxygencarbon monoxide and methane. The abundance of these gases in the atmosphere has been increasing recently, mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels combined with the removal of  carbon pitscarbon poolscarbon trapscarbon sinks by deforestation, which reduces the amount of  sedimentationphotosynthesisrespirationprecipitation taking place. Although most scientists think that these increases will have dramatic effects on Earth, such as rising  biodiversitysea levelscar pricesHIV transmission, others disagree, arguing that it is difficult to  predictmonitorjustifygeneralise the effects we will face.

A  carbon shadowcarbon trailcarbon impressioncarbon footprint is the total amount of carbon dioxide (and other similar gases) released by a product during its life cycle. It is important that we try to minimise this where we can to counteract climate change, e.g. changing our diets to reduce the global demand for  grainfishvegetablesbeef may substantially reduce methane emissions. This is, however, not always easy to do because most global agreements were not signed by  Asiandevelopingsouthern hemispherenorthern hemisphere countries, which are now having a greater impact on the environment as they develop.

All fossil fuels contain some amount of  phosphorusheliumoxygensulfur. This can form a harmful gas which, along with oxides of nitrogen formed in hot engines, is responsible for many respiratory issues in people and the formation of  poison rainacid rainpungent rainlava rain, a pollutant which corrodes buildings and damages wildlife. Fossil fuels can also burn incompletely to produce  radio particlesparticulatesdimmerscarbon grains, solid particles which can contribute to global dimming, and  carbon monoxidehydrogenhydrogen chlorideargon, a colourless, odourless gas which is toxic to animals.