Evidently. It is one of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which has been warming up the atmosphere since millions of years. It is one of many GHG's responsible in keeping atmospheric temperature of the Earth above that of of an atmosphere without these heat trapping gases.
Good to read some atmospheric physics books about the greenhouse effect!
Just a short intro is the following:
The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth's surface. It occurs when the sun's energy reaches the Earth's atmosphere, some of which is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases. The absorbed energy warms the atmosphere and the surface of the Earth.
The primary greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are:
These greenhouse gases trap some of the heat energy that would otherwise escape into space, keeping the Earth's surface warmer than it would be without them. This natural greenhouse effect is essential for maintaining a habitable temperature on Earth, allowing life as we know it to thrive.
However, human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and agriculture (LUCC), have significantly increased the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, enhancing the natural greenhouse effect. This enhanced greenhouse effect contributes to global warming and climate change, with widespread implications for ecosystems, weather patterns, and sea levels.
We have not experienced the last catastrophic events of climate change yet!
#NoMercyCV
CO2 produced by human activities is the largest contributor to global warming. Without carbon dioxide, Earth's natural greenhouse effect would be too weak to keep the average global surface temperature above freezing. By adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, people are supercharging the natural greenhouse effect, causing global temperature to rise. In June 2023, had reached 424 parts per million (ppm). This means that of every one million molecules in the atmosphere, 424 are CO2. The 350 ppm is the “safe” level of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is Earth's most important greenhouse gas: a gas that absorbs and radiates heat. Unlike oxygen or nitrogen (which make up most of our atmosphere), greenhouse gases absorb heat radiating from the Earth's surface and re-release it in all directions—including back toward Earth's surface. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere warms the planet, causing climate change. Human activities have raised the atmosphere's carbon dioxide content by 50% in less than 200 years.
Search for this subject here on ResearchGate: dozens of questions??!!
For instance try the subject climate change
A general scientific warning: make a literature search before you pose a question
Carbon dioxide (CO2) plays a significant role in climate change as a greenhouse gas. It absorbs and emits infrared radiation, trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere. Increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, primarily from human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, enhance the greenhouse effect, leading to global warming and climate change. This can result in various impacts, including rising temperatures, changing weather patterns, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and disruptions to ecosystems and biodiversity.
Besides the obvious villain (CO2) in raising our temperature, there is a documented increase in the amount of water vapour in our area and maybe other areas too.
According to Frank Veroustraete (above) water vapour is the most abundant greenhouse gas. Therefore the dramatic increase of about 40 % in humidity in our area (from 30% to at least 70%) has resulted in the apparent decease in winter temperatures (we have had NO WINTER this year!).
The main subject of conversations today is "what on Earth is going on with our weather"?
In fact in Western Europe we had no winter either Michael. We had lots of rain this winter and quite high winter temperatures. In my opinion, that's one of the impacts of water vapour in the atmosphere.
Let's not forget the pretty unknown feedbacks in atmospheric humidity dynamics, especially when absolute humidity increases towards the condensation point!
Harvests of potatoes, and many other crops, are rotting in Flanders fields now. The soils are too wet to get the enormous tractors in the fields of muddy clay! Another disaster. Yep! And farmers protest and ask for help, while the EU budget for farmers is the highest, 31% or the total EU budget!
Climate Change has no mercy!
#NoMercyCV
By the way, meteorologists use the following equations a lot with respect to the thermodynamics of the atmosphere. The relate a lot to water vapor content. See the attached Excell sheet and the exponential relationship between saturated vapor pressure and atmospheric temperature. This drives a lot of meteorological phenomena and hence climate on the longer term.
Cheers
Frank
Another factor that can contribute to global warming is methane hydrate.
Everyone is scared to contemplate about this substance, because this will be the ultimate contributor to major warming of the air.
The increase in CO2 can lead to the release of methane hydrate from the ocean floor, lakes and swamps.
Has anyone seen methane bubbling up from the ocean surface? I am sure lots of people have. This is just the start of a process that previously led to the Permian Extinction event (the biggest extinction of life in the Earth's history), some 250 m.y. ago.
When the water gets warm enough, this gas can be released from the bottom to the surface and into the air.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
- Gas