Correct Answer:
D. Water vapors
The Earth's atmosphere contains various gases that absorb different wavelengths of solar radiation. Water vapor is the most significant natural greenhouse gas and a primary absorber of infrared (IR) radiation emitted by the sun and re-radiated from Earth's surface. Its molecular structure allows it to efficiently absorb and re-emit IR energy, playing a crucial role in the planet's heat budget and the greenhouse effect.
- Violet is a color in the visible light spectrum, not a gas that absorbs infrared radiation.
- Carbon dioxide is indeed a major greenhouse gas and absorbs infrared, but water vapor generally accounts for a larger share of atmospheric IR absorption.
- Ozone primarily absorbs harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the stratosphere, protecting life on Earth, rather than being the main absorber of solar infrared.