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I think the title says it all...

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    $\begingroup$ Hi Crom, did you have a look at the wikipedia page for greenhouse gases? At SE we value prior research, because nobody has time to answer a full out "explain the whole universe to me" questions. Thus, it would be nice of you to do some prior reading and then come back with the points you didn't understand. $\endgroup$
    – AtmosphericPrisonEscape
    Oct 7, 2019 at 12:21
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    $\begingroup$ Nope, the title doesn't say it at all. What is the question here? Why is CO2 considered GHG? What is a GHG? How does the greenhouse effect work? Why does CO2 act as GHG? Please specify your question. $\endgroup$
    – Erik
    Oct 7, 2019 at 12:43
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    $\begingroup$ Possible duplicate of How do 'greenhouse gases' let heat in, but not let it out? $\endgroup$
    – Semidiurnal Simon
    Oct 7, 2019 at 17:06
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    $\begingroup$ You are expected to show some effort to answer the question on your own. Honestly this should be closed as a homework question. $\endgroup$
    – John
    Oct 7, 2019 at 19:55

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Yes, you are right, the title says it all. The presence of greenhouse gases, of which there are several, allows radiant energy from the sun to pass through the atmosphere but hinders the longer wavelength, infra red, thermal radiation from getting back out again, thus acting like the glass in a greenhouse. CO2 is a less effective greenhouse gas than methane, but there is much more of it in the atmosphere and it stays there longer, so this is the one which causes most concern. There are natural processes which reduce the amount of CO2 and methane in the atmosphere as long as the input, mainly from human activity, is not more than they can deal with.

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  • $\begingroup$ I think by "shorter wavelength" you actually meant "longer wavelength"? $\endgroup$
    – Semidiurnal Simon
    Oct 7, 2019 at 17:03
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    $\begingroup$ You're right. How silly of me. It was the written equivalent of a slip of the tongue! I should have checked it more thoroughly. $\endgroup$
    – Michael Walsby
    Oct 7, 2019 at 17:54

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