All episodes of Both CO2 and H2O are greenhouse gases but why is

Both CO2 and H2O are greenhouse gases but why is the former more harmful in relation to global warming

This short talk discusses the relationship between blackbody radiation and the emission spectrum of the sun and the earth, and the overlap of each with the vibrational absorption spectrum of carbon dioxide and water. The reason why carbon dioxide has a larger effect on warming the atmosphere than water vapour is that the absorption spectrum of the former lies closer to the blackbody emission spectrum of the earth than the latter and because the water absorption spectrum is saturated.

Published 05/25/16

Both CO2 and H2O are greenhouse gases but why is the former more harmful in relation to global warming?

Published 05/25/16

Both CO2 and H2O are greenhouse gases but why is the former more harmful in relation to global warming?

This short talk discusses the relationship between blackbody radiation and the emission spectrum of the sun and the earth, and the overlap of each with the vibrational absorption spectrum of carbon dioxide and water. The reason why carbon dioxide has a larger effect on warming the atmosphere than water vapour is that the absorption spectrum of the former lies closer to the blackbody emission spectrum of the earth than the latter and because the water absorption spectrum is saturated.

Published 09/12/13