Trace gas Trace gas The most abundant gases in the atmosphere are nitrogen (78.1%), oxygen (20.9%), and argon (0.934%). Combined, oxygen, argon, and nitrogen make up 99.934% of the gases in the atmosphere (not including water vapor). The other gases that are not part of the 99.934% of the atmosphere are called trace gases. The abundance of a trace gas can range from a few parts per trillion (ppt) by volume to several hundred parts per million by volume (ppmv). When a trace gas is added into the atmosphere, that process is called a "source". There are two possible types of sources
Atmosphere sea level. The low temperatures and higher gravity of the Solar System's giant planets—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune—allow them more readily to retain gases with low molecular masses. These planets have hydrogen–helium atmospheres, with trace amounts of more complex compounds. Two satellites of the outer planets possess significant atmospheres. Titan, a moon of Saturn, and Triton, a moon of Neptune, have atmospheres mainly of nitrogen. When in the part of its orbit closest to the Sun, Pluto has an atmosphere of nitrogen and methane similar to Triton's, but these gases are frozen when it is farther from the Sun. Other