even though only a tiny amount of the gases in earth s atmosphere are greenhouse gases they have a huge effect on climate there are several different types of greenhouse gasesthe major ones are carbon dioxide water vapor methane and nitrous oxide all of these have molecules with three or more atomsarth s greenhouse gases even though only a tiny amount of the gases in earth s atmosphere are greenhouse gases they have a huge effect on climate there are several different types of greenhouse gases the major ones are carbon dioxide water vapor methane and nitrous oxide