Methane. A hydrocarbon gas produced both through natural sources and human activities, including the decomposition of wastes in landfills, agriculture, and especially rice cultivation, as well as ruminant digestion and manure management associated with domestic livestock. On a molecule-for-molecule basis, methane is a far more active greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, but also one which is much less abundant in the atmosphere.
Both CO2 (carbon dioxide) and CH4 (methane) are exceptionally stable gases. Hence, they are excellent partners in cooperating with an atmosphere which allows biotic content. It is that stability that creates the problem. I am not suggesting we should be toying with greenhouse gases, that would sincerely screw up Earth. But, what I am saying is that concentrations will do their job and the higher the concentrations of these gases the hotter it gets within that thin blue line we call an atmosphere.
