Consider the following which can be found in the ambient atmosphere: 1. Soot 2. Sulphur hexafluoride 3. Water vapour Which of the above contribute to the warming up of the atmosphere?

The correct answer is D because all three substances contribute to atmospheric warming through different mechanisms. 1. Soot, also known as black carbon, is a potent warming agent. Unlike gases, it is a particulate matter that absorbs solar energy directly in the atmosphere and reduces the reflectivity of snow and ice when it settles on them. 2. Sulphur hexafluoride is an extremely potent synthetic greenhouse gas. It has a very high global warming potential, thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide, because it is highly effective at trapping infrared radiation and remains in the atmosphere for a long time. 3. Water vapour is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. It creates a powerful feedback loop by absorbing thermal infrared radiation emitted by the Earths surface, thereby trapping heat and increasing the overall temperature. Since all three contribute to the warming of the atmosphere, the correct option is 1, 2 and 3.