Greenhouse gas, which is present in the highest quantity in atmosphere, is
2018
Greenhouse gas, which is present in the highest quantity in atmosphere, is
- A.
propane
- B.
ethane
- C.
carbon dioxide
- D.
methane
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept: A gas's contribution to the greenhouse effect depends on both how efficiently it absorbs infrared radiation per molecule and how much of it is actually present in the atmosphere. "Highest quantity" is asking about atmospheric concentration/abundance — not about per-molecule warming potency.
Application: Comparing the typical atmospheric concentration of each gas among the options:
Gas | Approx. atmospheric concentration |
|---|---|
Carbon dioxide | ~420-430 ppm (~0.043%) |
Methane | ~1.9 ppm (~0.00019%) |
Ethane | trace, ~parts-per-billion |
Propane | trace, ~parts-per-trillion |
Carbon dioxide's share of the atmosphere is roughly 200 times that of methane and orders of magnitude larger than the trace hydrocarbons ethane and propane — so among the greenhouse gases offered here, carbon dioxide is present in the highest quantity.
Cross-check: Independent atmospheric-monitoring records (e.g. NOAA's Global Monitoring Laboratory) confirm carbon dioxide as the dominant greenhouse gas among these non-water atmospheric constituents, consistent with this comparison.
Note: Water vapour is naturally the most abundant greenhouse gas in Earth's atmosphere overall, but it is not one of the options offered here; among the greenhouse gases listed in this question, carbon dioxide is present in the highest quantity.
Hence, among the greenhouse gases listed in this question, carbon dioxide is present in the highest quantity.