what is a greenhouse gas?

any gas in earth's atmosphere
a gas at higher temperature than the surrounding atmosphere
a gas that forms a physical barrier to block escaping heat
any gas in the troposphere that absorbs and re-emits infrared radiation

A greenhouse gas is any gas in Earth's atmosphere that absorbs and re-emits infrared radiation, contributing to the greenhouse effect and warming the planet. Examples of greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor.