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Global warming carbon dioxide and the environment

Search for more about the atmosphere.

We have a lot to worry about when it comes to Global warming carbon dioxide and related problems.

Stack with emissions

This thought starts with the well-established theory that the mix of gases in the atmosphere keeps the earth warm.  Not only do they hold sensible heat, but they also keep long-wave radiation from the earth from getting out.

There's a global warming carbon dioxide scare because carbon dioxide is one of those gases - greenhouse gases.  Basically, the atmosphere keeps heat near us like a glass covering in a green house, but lets sunlight in.

A change in the amount of carbon dioxide is said to cause climate change.  We also have some control over it, so it's a big commercial, political, and moral issue, as Al Gore says.

How does it work? Several wavelengths of the earth's outgoing radiation have been shown to be blocked by CO2.  Increased carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere should make this cover more effective.

Carbon dioxide data

As a result of the enhanced greenhouse effect, the earth may get a little warmer and emit infrared radiation (IR, which carries heat) at a slightly lower wavelength.  Reduced wavelength means more energy, as in a higher temperature at the radiation source.  As a result, infrared radiation with a shorter wavelength is associated with a higher temperature at the source, so Earth's increased temperature shifts the peak wavelength of its infrared radiation towards a shorter wavelength.

Infrared radiation is trapped in the Earth's atmosphere by greenhouse gases, which absorb and re-emit it (both upwards and downwards).  That's why greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, are often blamed for global warming.

Certain wavelengths of infrared radiation get through the "atmospheric window", aren't absorbed by greenhouse gases and can quickly escape into space.  Some radiation passes through the atmosphere without being absorbed by greenhouse gases and can exit instead of being trapped by the atmosphere and contributing to global warming.

At some wavelengths, the amount of energy escaping through the atmosphere window is less than what's trapped by greenhouse gases.  But at other wavelengths, more of the IR gets through.  Greenhouse gases currently absorb and re-emit much of the infrared radiation emitted by the Earth.

Bright and Sunny

Furthermore, increasing the Earth's temperature to emit more radiation at shorter wavelengths wouldn't solve global warming since it would have to get worse first for this to happen.  However, radiation from this warmer source will eventually get through the carbon dioxide blanket that's causing global warming and a new energy balanced would be achieved.

The majority of us don't realize that and expect a runaway climate change.  All this has led to people trying to convince those in charge of global warming carbon dioxide emissions to find ways to reduce carbon dioxide levels. 

Why?  To slow down global warming.  The world's biggest economic interests depend on carbon-releasing processes.  Like those in the oil industry.  So it's been a tough sell.

The following video elaborates on the issue of global warming carbon dioxide

Go stream An Inconvenient Truth.

Friends of Science

There's been some opposition from scientists.  Some other scientists have pointed out a few things that complicate things.

CO2 isn't the biggest greenhouse gas anyway.  Water vapour wins.  There's a lot more of it and it's more effective.

The greening of earth

They also say that mankind's carbon dioxide emissions are strongly accentuated by nature's CO2 emissions.  Things like volcanoes, decomposition, etc.

Even natural carbon sequestration (removal) beats man-made emissions.  Check out FriendsofScience.org for more ideas.  Here's what else they said

Global warming carbon dioxide levels don't change before global temperatures do.  Carbon dioxide concentrations follow temperatures by hundreds of years when graphed.

• CO2 is stored in the oceans.  The bigger they are, the better they hold carbon dioxide.  Maybe that's why global warming happens before CO2 levels rise.
• Someone here pointed out, "According to the Kyoto protocol's backers, following it would result in almost no lowering of temperatures." - hmmm… This protocol reduces carbon dioxide emissions and slows global warming.  According to Hadley Center researchers, curbing emissions could save us about 0.06°C.
• Life depends on carbon dioxide.
• Some climate change can be attributed to the greenhouse effect, but other factors are also at play.  Global warming is caused by Changes in the earth's orbit and sunspot activity.
• CO2 and water vapour aren't the only gases contributing to global warming.
• Here's something to keep in mind.  We might see a temperature increase due to changes in carbon dioxide concentrations.  This is the first time CO2 has increased independently of temperature like this, so the results might surprise you.

Global Warming Solutions

Al Gore's suggestions in An Inconvenient Truth are good ones.  You know, things like:

• Using energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs
• Increasing fuel economy and emissions standards for vehicles
• Using renewable energy and technology
• Sequestering more carbon

...to list a few.

What makes them so valuable?

1. Energy wasted is money wasted.
2. Most of the time, the environment benefits in more ways than one.  Carbon emissions, for example, are often released along with other, more dangerous, chemicals.
3. There's no way to know for sure.  But there's a chance it'll make a difference.

Just don't count on it.

Conserving can't hurt at the very least. Go back from Global Warming Carbon Dioxide to the Air Quality Testers page.

Search this site for more information now.

Is there a connection between global warming and carbon dioxide?

There are several factors that need to be considered in order to determine what global warming is caused by carbon dioxide emissions in the air.  There is no way to predict what will happen with absolute certainty.

Do you have concerns about air pollution in your area??

Perhaps modelling air pollution will provide the answers to your question.

That is what I do on a full-time basis.  Find out if it is necessary for your project.

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Thank you to my research and writing assistants, ChatGPT and WordTune, as well as Wombo for the images.