Climate change Greenhouse gas emissions  The Earth receives energy from the Sun, in a spectrum of wavelengths that correspond to the Sun's temperature. Molecules in the atmosphere that have a quantum dipole excitation at a wavelength that matches incoming solar energy can absorb solar energy; these are called greenhouse gases. The effect of each molecule depends on the amount of solar energy captured by its quantum excitation, and how long the molecule stays in the atmosphere. Atmospheric lifetime is affected by transfers to terrestrial, oceanic or biological systems, and by atmospheric chemistry. Combustion emissions can be calculated stoichiometrically.