ABSTRACT

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are major contributors to global warming and climate change. These gases modulate the atmospheric radiative forcing and play an important role in Earth's albedo. The emission level, global warming potential and the persistence of a GHG define its accumulation in the atmosphere and relative potential to change radiative forcing. The major anthropogenic GHGs include methane, nitric oxide, ozone, hydrochloroflourocarbons, chloroflourocarbons, sulfur hexaflouride and nitrogen triflouride Besides these, some gases indirectly act as GHGs like carbon monoxide, non-methane hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides. Many scientists have already warned regarding elevated emission trends after the industrial revolution. From last decades the emission of GHGs has tremendously increased in the atmosphere and the natural sinks of GHGs have contracted over time. Generally, fossil fuel burning and change in land use are major sources of GHGs while major sinks include soil, ocean and atmosphere. Interestingly the emission trends of greenhouse gases from different sources as well as the contribution of various countries to global greenhouse gasses budget have changed. Thus previous footprints, trends and projections regarding GHGs are needed to be reevaluated. Specific precautions and strategies are compatible to reduce GHGs emissions while further may help to obtain global temperature to above pre-industrial ambient temperature level by reducing 2°C in current temperature.