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Greenhouse gases, or any gas that holds heat close the surface of the planet and prevents it from reflecting back into space, generally include water vapor, methane and similar gases, and carbon dioxide, though it isn't limited to these gases. All of these are produced naturally.

Water vapor is the most powerful and widest spread greenhouse gas. It occurs during evaporation and during the respiration of plants and animals. Aside from the fact that without water, life, as we know it would be impossible, the water vapor is also largely responsible for our planet maintaining a temperature that we can survive in. As much as 90% of all greenhouse gas on Earth is in the form of water vapor.

Carbon dioxide is part of the Carbon cycle, which is absolutely necessary for life to exist on Earth. Carbon is an element that combines easily with many other chemicals, including oxygen. Your body contains a large amount of carbon, as do the bodies of all animals and plants. Most carbon is locked up and bonded in rocks, minerals, and water. This is especially true of ocean water, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that there is more carbon, mostly in the form of carbon dioxide, in the oceans of the world than any other source on the surface. (I draw a distinction here because a large amount of carbon is found in rocks that are below the surface.) Nearly pure carbon can be found in both coal and diamonds.

Methane, butane, propane, and similar gases, are produced naturally from the decomposition of plant material. These are all combinations of carbon and hydrogen. As plant material breaks down, it releases carbon, which is then available to combine with the hydrogen. This happens in the stomachs of animals that eat the plant material, and in the forests, rivers, lakes, or other areas when plant life decays. This process has produced natural gas.

The burning of fossil fuels does produce all of these natural substances. So each time we burn coal, gasoline, diesel, propane, butane, methane, or even wood, we are producing greenhouse gases. But even including industry and power plants, this is not the greatest source of these gases.

The biggest source of all is also a natural process; the eruption of a volcano. One moderate volcano produces more greenhouse gases, including those not mentioned here like sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, than man produces in an entire year. Let me say that again, since it is important. One single volcanic eruption produces more greenhouse gases

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