Which of the following gases accounts for the largest amount of radiative forcing?
A)Carbon dioxide (CO2).
B)Nitrous oxides (N2
O).
C)Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
D)Methane (CH4).

Question

Which of the following gases accounts for the largest amount of radiative forcing?
A)Carbon dioxide (CO2). 
B)Nitrous oxides (N2
O). 
C)Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). 
D)Methane (CH4).

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Carbon dioxide is the most abundant long-lived greenhouse gas in the atmosphere and is responsible for about two-thirds of the total radiative forcing caused by all greenhouse gases. Methane (CH4) has a higher global warming potential than CO2 but it is present in much lower concentrations. Nitrous oxides (N2O) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have much longer lifetimes in the atmosphere than methane but their radiative forcing is less than that of CO2.

Which of the Following Gases Accounts for the Largest Amount