Greenhouse gases that strengthen the greenhouse effect and contribute to climate change primarily originate from which of the following human related sources?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: All the above

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question is an environmental science item about the human activities that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect becomes stronger when gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide accumulate, leading to global warming and climate change. Understanding the main human related sources of these gases is essential for both general awareness and for exams on environment and ecology.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The focus is on major categories of human activity that emit greenhouse gases.
  • The listed sources are agriculture, land use change, and fossil fuels.
  • Option D suggests that all of these may contribute.
  • We assume standard scientific understanding as summarised in climate reports.


Concept / Approach:
Fossil fuel combustion for electricity, transport, and industry is the largest single source of carbon dioxide emissions. Land use change, including deforestation and conversion of forests to agriculture, releases carbon stored in vegetation and soils. Agriculture itself emits methane from livestock and rice paddies and nitrous oxide from fertilisers. All three categories therefore contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, which means the combined option All the above is the correct answer.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider agriculture. Livestock such as cattle release methane during digestion, and fertilised fields emit nitrous oxide, both strong greenhouse gases.Step 2: Consider land use change. Cutting down forests and draining wetlands releases stored carbon and reduces the capacity of ecosystems to absorb carbon dioxide.Step 3: Consider fossil fuels. Burning coal, oil, and gas for power, transport, and industry emits large amounts of carbon dioxide, the most discussed greenhouse gas.Step 4: Since each of these activities releases greenhouse gases, they all contribute to the strengthened greenhouse effect.Step 5: Therefore, select All the above as the correct answer.


Verification / Alternative check:


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Agriculture alone: Important but not the only major source; ignoring fossil fuels and land use would be incomplete.
  • Land use change alone: Also significant, especially in tropical regions, but not the only key driver.
  • Fossil fuels alone: Though the largest single category, climate science clearly identifies agriculture and land use change as additional major contributors.


Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may focus only on fossil fuels because they receive the most media attention. Others may underestimate agriculture, thinking it only affects local pollution. A good strategy is to remember that climate reports usually separate emissions into multiple large sectors, with energy, agriculture, and land use all playing important roles. Whenever a question lists all three together, the combined option is very likely correct.


Final Answer:
Greenhouse gases that intensify the greenhouse effect mainly come from all the above sources, namely agriculture, land use change, and fossil fuel use.

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