GREENHOUSE GAS Definition & Meaning

greenhouse gas

[ green-hous gas ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of the gases whose absorption of solar radiation is responsible for the greenhouse effect, including carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and the fluorocarbons.

greenhouse gas

noun

any gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect

greenhouse gas

Any of the atmospheric gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation produced by solar warming of the Earth's surface. They include carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), and water vapor. Although greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, the elevated levels especially of carbon dioxide and methane that have been observed in recent decades are directly related, at least in part, to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and the deforestation of tropical forests.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of greenhouse gas¹

First recorded in 1980–85

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

And despite the laudable role satellites play in monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, they contribute to them too.

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All of this could lead to a worsening of climate change by reversing progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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“The United States represents about 5% of the world’s population and generates nearly 20% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

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Heating homes, largely through gas boilers, is responsible for about 18.5% of Scotland's planet warming greenhouse gas emissions.

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Despite scrapping certain climate change targets last year, the Scottish government still aims to achieve net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045.

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