GHG

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Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are gases in the atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared range. They greatly affect the temperature of the Earth; without them, Earth’s surface would be on average about 59 degrees Fahrenheit colder than at present. These can be emitted through natural processes or human activities, along with other traditional air pollutants regulated through the NAAQS. When released, GHGs get trapped in the atmosphere and that energy returns to the surface, warming it. The release of GHGs by human activity is causing climate change.