Sources of Global Warming Atmospheric concentrations of certain gases have increased since the industrial revolution. The higher levels of these gases have raised the ability of the earth's atmosphere to trap radiant heat thus raising temperatures on the earth's surface. This is important to keep the earth's temperature feasible for life as we known it. The problem arises when the concentration of these greenhouse gases to levels which are no longer balanced with the earth's natural ability to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.
Carbon dioxide is emitted to the atmosphere through natural sources.
Plant respiration and decomposition of organic matter release more than 10 times the CO 2 released by human activities, these natural releases have been in balance with the carbon dioxide absorbed by plant photosynthesis. Methane emissions is second to carbon dioxide in significance to global warming because it is 21 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO 2. Methane's atmospheric concentration over the last 20 years has doubled. Nitrous oxide is 310 times more efficient than CO 2 at trapping atmospheric heat. These gases have long lifetimes in the atmosphere as well as high global warming potential.