Soojusgaaside

Soojusgaaside, often translated as greenhouse gases, are atmospheric gases that absorb and re-emit infrared radiation. This process is fundamental to the Earth's climate system. The primary greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. These gases trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space, and thus maintain a habitable temperature on the planet. Without the natural greenhouse effect, Earth's surface would be much colder, likely too cold to support life as we know it.

However, human activities, particularly since the Industrial Revolution, have significantly increased the concentration of some of these gases, especially carbon dioxide and methane, in the atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy, deforestation, and certain agricultural practices are major contributors to this increase. This enhanced greenhouse effect leads to a gradual warming of the planet, a phenomenon known as global warming, which in turn drives climate change. Climate change encompasses a range of alterations to weather patterns and temperature extremes.