Do all atmospheric gases contribute to the greenhouse effect?

Not all atmospheric gases contribute to the greenhouse effect; only certain gases, known as greenhouse gases, have the ability to trap heat in the atmosphere. Key greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor. While gases like oxygen and nitrogen make up a large portion of the atmosphere, they do not significantly contribute to the greenhouse effect because they do not absorb infrared radiation. Thus, only a subset of atmospheric gases plays a critical role in regulating Earth's temperature.