EXERCIS E 4: There is great concern that the CO2 we add to the atmosphere from f

Question

EXERCIS E 4: There is great concern that the CO2 we add to the atmosphere from fossil-fuel burning will result in a so-called "greenhouse" effect because that gas traps outgoing infrared radiation and thereby warms Earth's surface (see Problem III.8). We will see later (also in Problem III.8) that H2O is a more effective absorber of infrared radiation than is CO2. Given that emissions of H2O were comparable to those of CO2, why don't we worry about the effect of our H2O emissions on the radiation balance in the atmo- sphere? (Hint: answering this requires only stock-flow-residence time considerations.)

Explanation / Answer

ANSWER-

We don't worry about the emission of water vapor as comparable to CO2 although it accounts of 60% of the warming effect because water vapor doesnot control the earth's temperature but its amount is instead controlled by temperature.The reason is temperature limits the amount of water vapor present in the atmosphere and if the temperature is decreased water vapor condenses to form clouds and precipitate in the form of liquid water.They are condensable but the problem lies with CO2, ,as well as CH4,O3 etc. because they are non-condensable.Since such gases cannot be condensed at atmospheric temperature and pressure ,the atmosphere holds such gases increases the temperature with increased water vapor as a consequence.

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