| The greenhouse effect that Al Gore thinks is new | | | | to space is emitted from the upper atmosphere. |
| stuff has been around since it was discovered by | | | | The infrared photons emitted by the surface are |
| Joseph Fourier in 1824 and first investigated | | | | mostly absorbed in the atmosphere by |
| quantitatively by Svante Arrhenius in 1896. Global | | | | greenhouse gases and clouds and do not escape |
| warming, a recent warming of the Earth, is | | | | directly to space. |
| believed to be the result of increased | | | | So what are we saying here? |
| concentrations of greenhouse gases in the | | | | How much of the global warming is due to carbon |
| atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is the | | | | dioxide accummulated in the atmosphere? Did you |
| process in which the emission of infrared radiation | | | | know we NEED some degree of greenhouse |
| by the atmosphere warms a planet's surface. | | | | effects? While many greenhouse gases occur |
| But, who is to blame for global warming? | | | | naturally and are needed to create the |
| In addition to the Earth, Mars and Venus have | | | | greenhouse effect that keeps the Earth warm |
| greenhouse effects. Temperatures are increasing | | | | enough to support life, human use of fossil fuels is |
| there as well and the latest telescopes have not | | | | looked upon as taking us beyond the earth's |
| detected any cars, factories, or smoke stacks. | | | | comfort zone, and thus ours eventually. |
| Could the sun be part of the problem? I mean we | | | | But what about all that MEAT that we like to eat |
| have to BLAME our troubles on something or | | | | and all that RICE that we like as well? |
| someone. And of course wherever the blame is | | | | Don't be throwing all the blame on carbon dioxide! |
| placed, we know the fix- and it's not us. | | | | Nitrous oxide and methane need a little blame as |
| But, if global warming is due (even if in part) to | | | | well. In fact, nitrous oxide absorbs 270 times |
| the sun. How do we fix that? How much of the | | | | more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide, and |
| 2012 prophecies will be as a result of the sun? | | | | methane absorbs 21 times more heat per |
| The earth receives energy from the Sun in the | | | | molecule than carbon dioxide. |
| form of radiation (solar radiation). The Earth | | | | A recent study showed that since 1850 or there |
| reflects about 30% of the incoming solar radiation. | | | | abouts (give or take a month or two), the |
| The remaining 70% is absorbed, warming the | | | | atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has |
| land, atmosphere and oceans. Can you say earth, | | | | increased by 31 percent. But, over the same |
| maybe even, global warming? | | | | period, the level of atmospheric methane has |
| For the Earth's temperature to be in steady state | | | | risen by 151 percent, mostly from agricultural |
| so that the earth does not rapidly heat or cool, | | | | activities such as raising cattle and growing rice. I |
| this absorbed solar radiation must be very closely | | | | haven't heard Al Gore getting on our farmers |
| balanced by energy radiated back to space. The | | | | recently, have you? |
| visible solar radiation mostly heats the surface | | | | Maybe we need to do more homework. I am. |
| whereas most of the infrared radiation escaping | | | | |