Arrange the following greenhouse gases in their decreasing order in terms of the amount of extra warming they produce:
(A) CO2 (B) CH4 (C) CFCs (D) N2O (E) O3
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is B

When arranging greenhouse gases by the amount of extra warming they produce, we consider global warming potential (GWP), atmospheric concentration, and their contribution to warming effects.
Here’s the explanation for the order (A), (B), (E), (C), (D):
1. CO2(A):
· CO2​ contributes the most to global warming due to its high concentration in the atmosphere, even though its GWP is lower (~1 compared to other gases).
2. CH4(B):
· Methane has a much higher GWP (~25 times CO2​) but is present in smaller concentrations, making it the second-largest contributor to warming.
3. O3 (E):
· Ozone acts as a greenhouse gas in the troposphere, trapping heat efficiently. It contributes less than CH4 due to its dynamic formation and destruction cycles.
4. CFCs (C):
· Chlorofluorocarbons have very high GWP (thousands of times CO2​), but their atmospheric concentration is minimal due to regulation under the Montreal Protocol.
5. N2O (D):
· Nitrous oxide has a GWP of about 298, but its concentration is very low, making its contribution less significant compared to the other gases.
Thus, the correct order is (A), (B), (E), (C), (D).
Information Booster: 1. Global Warming Potential (GWP):
· Measures the heat-trapping ability of a gas compared to CO2​.
· GWP (over 100 years):
· CO2​: 1
· CH4​: ~25
· N2O: ~298
· CFCs: Thousands (varies with type).
2. Major Contributions to Warming:
· CO2​: Primary contributor (~76% of total greenhouse gas emissions).
· CH4​: Accounts for ~16% of emissions, primarily from agriculture and fossil fuels.
· O3: Contributes as a secondary greenhouse gas.