... buildup in the atmosphere of gases which absorb heat. To maintain a constant average temperature, the Earth must radiate heat to space. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) absorb a part of this heat energy and radiate it back to the surface of the planet, trapping it in ... hundred years, in a further rise in sea level by at least 6 meters. The following greenhouse gases contribute to global warming at different degrees. Carbon dioxide, the single most important greenhouse gas, accounts for about half of the warming that has been experienced as a result of past em...

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• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: Undergraduate