The increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the air is slowly raising the temperature of the atmosphere, because it absorbs

1. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a major greenhouse gas. 2. The greenhouse effect occurs because the atmosphere is largely transparent to incoming shortwave solar radiation (visible light), but certain gases (greenhouse gases) absorb outgoing longwave infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface. 3. Carbon dioxide strongly absorbs energy in specific wavelengths of the infrared spectrum. 4. By absorbing this outgoing infrared radiation, CO2 traps heat within the lower atmosphere, leading to an increase in global temperature (global warming). 5. Option (A) is incorrect. While water vapour is also a greenhouse gas, CO2's effect is independent. 6. Option (B) is incorrect. Ultraviolet radiation is primarily absorbed by ozone. 7. Option (C) is incorrect. CO2 does not absorb all solar radiations. 8. Option (D) correctly identifies the type of radiation (infrared) that carbon dioxide primarily absorbs, leading to atmospheric warming.