Greenhouse gases
Those gases, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride, that are transparent to solar (short-wave) radiation but opaque to long-wave (infrared) radiation, thus preventing long-wave radiant energy from leaving Earth's atmosphere. The net effect is a trapping of absorbed radiation and a tendency to warm the planet's surface.
Gas that contributes to the formation of an insulating blanket around the earth. Water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and halogenated hydrocarbons are the main GHGs.
