<p>They do, but not to the extreme that <span class="math-container">$\ce{O3}$</span> does. For reference, there is <span class="math-container">$\ce{O3}$</span> near the ground, but the <span class="math-container">$\ce{O3}$</span> in the stratosphere is amplified by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone%E2%80%93oxygen_cycle" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Chapman cycle</a> that forms it.</p>
<p>Generally, greenhouse gases have the highest concentration in layers where they are generated. Let's think about a few (not all) of the greenhouse gases, their sources, and some relevant processes that keep them confined to their layer.</p>
<ul>
<li><p><span class="math-container">$\ce{CO2}$</span> - emitted by combustion and respiration. Because <span class="math-container">$\ce{CO2}$</span> is a mostly stable molecule, it can probably travel pretty high into the atmosphere before it falls down due to the molecular weight. But due to where it's generated it'd still be more concentrated near the ground.</p>
</li>
<li><p>Water vapor (yes, it is a greenhouse gas) - most prominent in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_layer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">surface layer</a>, but generally decreases with height. Generally caps out due to phase transition (it becomes liquid water and ice), but some can enter into the stratosphere.</p>
</li>
<li><p>Methane - agricultural and biological sources. Like water, it is most prominent in the surface layer. However, it isn't as bound by phase transition as water vapor is.  It does interact with other chemicals in the atmosphere, such as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxyl_radical" rel="nofollow noreferrer">hydroxyl radical.</a></p>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-15T00:55:11.133Z
[What is the CO2 concentration by altitude and why?](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/16364/what-is-the-co2-concentration-by-altitude-and-why)
Keith McClary
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-14T01:07:25.057Z
2021-11-14T18:43:30.277Z
2021-11-14T18:43:30.277Z
BarocliniCplusplus
<p>Just as Ozone concentration peaks at around 20 km in the stratosphere, having a distribution around higher and lowers layers of the atmosphere, does the same happen for carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases?</p>

<climate-change><atmosphere><atmospheric-chemistry><greenhouse-gases>
Does carbon dioxide preferentially accumulate in one layer of the atmosphere?
C-Consciousness
# Does carbon dioxide preferentially accumulate in one layer of the atmosphere?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-11-12)

Just as Ozone concentration peaks at around 20 km in the stratosphere, having a distribution around higher and lowers layers of the atmosphere, does the same happen for carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases?

**Tags:** climate-change, atmosphere, atmospheric-chemistry, greenhouse-gases


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-11-14. Score: 2

They do, but not to the extreme that $\ce{O3}$ does. For reference, there is $\ce{O3}$ near the ground, but the $\ce{O3}$ in the stratosphere is amplified by the [Chapman cycle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone%E2%80%93oxygen_cycle) that forms it.

Generally, greenhouse gases have the highest concentration in layers where they are generated. Let's think about a few (not all) of the greenhouse gases, their sources, and some relevant processes that keep them confined to their layer.

* $\ce{CO2}$ - emitted by combustion and respiration. Because $\ce{CO2}$ is a mostly stable molecule, it can probably travel pretty high into the atmosphere before it falls down due to the molecular weight. But due to where it's generated it'd still be more concentrated near the ground.
* Water vapor (yes, it is a greenhouse gas) - most prominent in the [surface layer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_layer), but generally decreases with height. Generally caps out due to phase transition (it becomes liquid water and ice), but some can enter into the stratosphere.
* Methane - agricultural and biological sources. Like water, it is most prominent in the surface layer. However, it isn't as bound by phase transition as water vapor is. It does interact with other chemicals in the atmosphere, such as the [hydroxyl radical.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxyl_radical)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: [What is the CO2 concentration by altitude and why?](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/16364/what-is-the-co2-concentration-by-altitude-and-why)  

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