What is the primary driver of the greenhouse effect?

The primary driver of the greenhouse effect is the presence of gases such as carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere. These gases are known as greenhouse gases because they have the ability to absorb and emit infrared radiation. As sunlight enters the Earth's atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space, but the rest is absorbed by the Earth's surface and then re-radiated as heat. Greenhouse gases trap this heat, preventing it from escaping back into space, which leads to an increase in global temperatures.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) primarily comes from activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and various industrial processes, while methane (CH4) is released during the production and transport of coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as from livestock and other agricultural practices. The accumulation of these gases enhances the greenhouse effect, contributing significantly to climate change.

Cloud cover, pollution, and ocean currents do influence weather patterns and climate, but they do not directly drive the greenhouse effect to the same extent as greenhouse gases do. They may interact with and be impacted by the greenhouse effect but are not the primary cause of it.