Question map
Not attempted Correct Incorrect ★ Bookmarked
Loading…
Q56 (NDA-I/2015) Environment & Ecology › Climate Change & Global Initiatives › Climate science and impacts Answer Verified

When heat rays are reflected from Earth, gases like Carbon dioxide, Nitrous oxide do not allow them to escape back to the space causing our planet to heat up. These gases are known as

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: B
Explanation

Gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are classified as greenhouse gases (GHGs) because they absorb and re-emit infrared radiation [3]. While the Earth's atmosphere allows short-wave solar radiation to enter, these specific gases trap long-wave (infrared) radiation reflected from the Earth's surface [4]. This process, known as the greenhouse effect, prevents heat from escaping into space, thereby warming the planet [4]. Carbon dioxide is a primary GHG of concern, often produced by burning fossil fuels, while nitrous oxide is a powerful, long-lived gas emitted from agricultural and industrial activities [5]. Other significant greenhouse gases include methane and chlorofluorocarbons [3]. Without this natural effect, Earth would be significantly colder, but human-induced increases in these gas concentrations lead to enhanced global warming [6].

Sources

  1. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 7: Climate Change > 2. greenhouse gases > p. 9
  2. [3] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Biotic: Living > p. 111
  3. [4] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 13: Our Home: Earth, a Unique Life Sustaining Planet > Table 13.2: Planets in our solar system > p. 214
  4. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: World Climate and Climate Change > Greenhouse Gases(GHGs) > p. 96
  5. [5] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 29: Environment Issues and Health Effects > Greenhouse gases (GHGS) > p. 426
  6. [6] https://www.bgs.ac.uk/discovering-geology/climate-change/how-does-the-greenhouse-effect-work/
How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
Community Performance
Out of everyone who attempted this question.
89%
got it right
✓ Thank you! We'll review this.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CDS-II · 2009 · Q107 Relevance score: -1.82

Radio waves are reflected back to earth from the

CDS-I · 2013 · Q70 Relevance score: -1.99

Nearly 30% of the solar radiations return back to the space without contributing anything to the earth's surface temperature. This amount of radiation is known as—

IAS · 2025 · Q29 Relevance score: -3.73

Consider the following statements : I. Without the atmosphere, temperature would be well below freezing point everywhere on the Earth's surface. II. Heat absorbed and trapped by the atmosphere maintains our planet's average temperature. III. Atmosphere's gases, like carbon dioxide, are particularly good at absorbing and trapping radiation. Which of the statements given above are correct?

NDA-II · 2009 · Q37 Relevance score: -4.82

Which one of the following is the correct order in which the gases from the atmosphere disappear as one moves away from the surface of the earth?

NDA-I · 2010 · Q99 Relevance score: -4.89

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists : List-I A. Ozone gas B. Nitrous oxide C. Carbon dioxide D. Carbon monoxide List-II 1. Combines with haemoglobin 2. Ultraviolet radiation 3. Component of air in small quantity 4. Visible radiation 5. Infrared radiation Code : A B C D