Multiple choice

Arrange the following greenhouse gases in decreasing order of their efficiency in trapping infrared radiations.

  1. Nitrous oxide
  2. Methane
  3. Carbon dioxide

  1. 1, 2, 3

  2. 2, 3, 1

  3. 2, 1, 3

  4. 3, 2, 1
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Nitrous oxide traps heat about 300 times more effectively than carbon dioxide and can stay in the atmosphere for a century. One molecule of methane is 20 times more efficient at trapping infrared radiation radiated from the Earth’s surface than a molecule of carbon dioxide.

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