What is the most abundant greenhouse gas?

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most abundant greenhouse gas in Earth's atmosphere. It plays a crucial role in the greenhouse effect, which is the warming of Earth’s surface due to the trapping of heat by greenhouse gases. While other gases like methane and nitrous oxide are much more effective at trapping heat on a per molecule basis, their concentrations in the atmosphere are significantly lower than that of carbon dioxide.

Human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, have greatly increased the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since the late 18th century, contributing to climate change. CO2 is emitted through various natural processes as well as human activities. Because of its relatively high concentration and its long atmospheric lifetime, carbon dioxide remains the primary focus in discussions about greenhouse gases and their effect on global warming.

Methane, while a potent greenhouse gas, is present in lower concentrations than carbon dioxide. Ozone, primarily found in the stratosphere, plays a different role as it protects life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation but is not as significant in terms of overall greenhouse gas abundance. Nitrous oxide also has a lower abundance compared to carbon dioxide, although it is much more effective at trapping heat.

Overall, the significant prevalence of carbon dioxide in the