What are greenhouse gases responsible for?

Greenhouse gases are primarily responsible for contributing to the warming of Earth's atmosphere. This phenomenon occurs through the greenhouse effect, where certain gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide trap heat from the Earth's surface and prevent it from escaping into space. This process is crucial for maintaining the planet's temperature and supporting life; however, an increase in these gases due to human activities—like burning fossil fuels and deforestation—intensifies the effect, leading to global warming and climate change. The warming of the atmosphere disrupts weather patterns and can have significant impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, and sea levels.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the role of greenhouse gases. For example, greenhouse gases do not cool down the atmosphere or filter out harmful radiation; instead, their increase leads to a net warming effect. Additionally, while weather conditions can be affected by climate change, greenhouse gases do not create sustainable weather conditions; rather, they can lead to instability in weather patterns.