What is a greenhouse gas (GHG)?
A greenhouse gas absorbs and emits radiation at specific wavelengths within the spectrum of thermal infrared radiation emitted by the earth’s surface, the atmosphere itself, and by clouds. The build up of htese gases in the atmosphere results in the trapping of heat from the sun that bounces off of the earth’s surface. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, CFC’s, nitrous oxide and ozone are the main GHGs.
