Global warming is attributed to the presence of the following gases in the…
2022
Global warming is attributed to the presence of the following gases in the atmosphere:
(A) Methane
(B) Sulphur dioxide
(C) Surface Ozone
(D) Nitrogen dioxide
(E) Carbon dioxide
Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Answer: B. (A), (C), (E) only — CONCEPTGreenhouse gases warm the lower atmosphere by absorbing outgoing infrared radiation and re-emitting part of that energy. A gas must be distinguished…
- A.
(A), (B), (C), (E) only
- B.
(A), (C), (E) only
- C.
(A), (C), (D), (E) only
- D.
(A), (B), (D), (E) only
Attempted by 1 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
CONCEPT
Greenhouse gases warm the lower atmosphere by absorbing outgoing infrared radiation and re-emitting part of that energy. A gas must be distinguished from the aerosols it forms and from similarly named compounds.
APPLICATION
Methane absorbs infrared radiation and acts as a greenhouse gas.
Sulphur dioxide is oxidized to sulfate aerosols, whose dominant direct effect is to scatter sunlight and cool the climate.
Surface (tropospheric) ozone absorbs infrared radiation and contributes to warming.
Nitrogen dioxide is a short-lived air pollutant and ozone precursor; it is distinct from nitrous oxide, a major greenhouse gas.
Carbon dioxide absorbs outgoing infrared radiation and is the principal long-lived anthropogenic greenhouse gas.
CROSS-CHECK / CONTRAST
Authoritative greenhouse-gas lists include carbon dioxide, methane and ozone, while sulfate aerosols derived from sulphur dioxide have negative radiative forcing. Therefore, the applicable gases in this list are methane, surface ozone and carbon dioxide.