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The Greenhouse Effect

December 14, 2007

The greenhouse effect that Al Gore thinks is new stuff has been around since it was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824 and first investigated quantitatively by Svante Arrhenius in 1896. Global warming, a recent warming of the Earth, is believed to be the result of increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is the process in which the emission of infrared radiation by the atmosphere warms a planet’s surface.

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But, who is to blame for global warming?

In addition to the Earth, Mars and Venus have greenhouse effects. Temperatures are increasing there as well and the latest telescopes have not detected any cars, factories, or smoke stacks. Could the sun be part of the problem? I mean we have to BLAME our troubles on something or someone. And of coruse where ver the blame is placed, we know the fix- and it’s not us.

But, if global warming is due (even if in part) to the sun. How do we fix that? How much of the 2012 prophecies will be as a result of the sun?

The Earth receives energy from the Sun in the form of radiation (soalr radiation). The Earth reflects about 30% of the incoming solar radiation. The remaining 70% is absorbed, warming the land, atmosphere and oceans. Can you say earth, maybe even, global warming?

For the earth’s temperature to be in steady state so that the earth does not rapidly heat or cool, this absorbed solar radiation must be very closely balanced by energy radiated back to space. The visible solar radiation mostly heats the surface whereas most of the infrared radiation escaping to space is emitted from the upper atmosphere. The infrared photons emitted by the surface are mostly absorbed in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases and clouds and do not escape directly to space.

So what are we saying here?

How much of the global warming is due to carbon dioxide accummulated in the atmosphere? Did you know we NEED some degree of greenhouse effects? While many greenhouse gases occur naturally and are needed to create the greenhouse effect that keeps the earth warm enough to support life, human use of fossil fuels is looked upon as taking us beyond the earth’s comfort zone, and thus ours eventually.

But what about all that MEAT that we like to eat and all that RICE that we like as well?

Don’t be throwing all the blame on carbon dioxide! Nitrous oxide and methane need a little blame as well. In fact, nitrous oxide absorbs 270 times more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide, and methane absorbs 21 times more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide.

A recent study showed that since 1850 or there abouts (give or take a month or two), the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by 31 percent. But, over the same period, the level of atmospheric methane has risen by 151 percent, mostly from agricultural activities such as raising cattle and growing rice. I haven’t heard Al Gore getting on our faremrs recently, have you?

Written by Ernie · Filed Under Daily Commentary 

Comments

One Response to “The Greenhouse Effect”

  1. » Global Warming Cool Down? on December 21st, 2007 3:44 am

    […] “Many of my colleagues with whom I spoke share these views and report on their inability to publish their skepticism in the scientific or public media,” Paldor wrote. Does this mean we scrp the Greenhouse effect ideas? […]

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