What is the major cause of the greenhouse effect?(1 point)
Responses
soot from coal plants in the water
soot from coal plants in the water
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
carbon dioxide in the water
carbon dioxide in the water
soot from coal plants in the atmosphere
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
The major cause of the greenhouse effect is carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The major cause of the greenhouse effect is carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. To understand why carbon dioxide contributes to the greenhouse effect, we need to understand the process.
When sunlight reaches the Earth's surface, some of it is absorbed by the Earth and warms it up. The Earth then emits heat energy or infrared radiation back into the atmosphere. However, certain gases in the atmosphere, known as greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, trap some of this emitted heat and prevent it from escaping into space. This process leads to an increase in the Earth's temperature.
To determine the major cause of the greenhouse effect, we need to identify the gas that is primarily responsible for trapping heat in the atmosphere. In this case, carbon dioxide is the correct answer, as it is the most abundant greenhouse gas released by human activities such as burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. This release of carbon dioxide significantly contributes to the greenhouse effect and leads to global warming and climate change.