What gases in the atmosphere trap heat?

Some gases trap heat
while others don’t.
Let’s find out how and why.

N₂

Concentration

78.1% of Earth's atmosphere (780,840 parts per million)

Absorption Spectrum

360-420nm

O₂

Concentration

20.9% of Earth's atmosphere (209,460 parts per million)

Absorption Spectrum

700nm

CO₂

Concentration

0.042% of Earth's atmosphere (420 parts per million)

Absorption Spectrum

1400-2500nm

CH₄

Concentration

0.000192% of Earth's atmosphere (1.92 parts per million)

Absorption Spectrum

2470-3700nm

H₂O

Concentration

0-4% of Earth's atmosphere (0-40,000 parts per million)

Absorption Spectrum

900/1100/1300-1400/1750-1900nm

Look up into the sky. You are looking at the atmosphere.

Let's take a closer look at the gases that make up the atmosphere and observe how they behave.

Choose a gas to begin.

Atmospheric Gases