Re: Global warming deniers

Robert Grumbine <bobg@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
In article <1145393941.108159.218350@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Kermit <unrestrained_hand@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

[snipping away to commit a little pedantry]

Have any evidence? We have
significantly altered CO2, the main greenhouse gas, in the atmosphere.

It's actually number 2, behind water vapor. It is the number one
greenhouse gas that does not condense under terrestrial conditions,
and that is an important qualifier. If water vapor were the sole,
or strongly dominant, greenhouse gas, then we'd be a very cold place.
Any decline in temperature (say because it's night) would precipitate
water from the atmosphere, leading to further cooling, and a runaway
that direction. The noncondensing greenhouse gases, lead by CO2,
provide a floor for that process and prevent the runaway cooling.

[excellent stuff snipped to make a point that Robert of course
already knows]

The surface of the earth is about 70% covered by water.
The meaning of this is that there is no way that we can
control the amount of water in the atmosphere.

The maximum amount of water in the atmosphere is governed
by the temperature. The higher the temperature, the larger
the maximum.

When the maximum is exceeded, it rains. But very often the
maximum is not exceeded. The actual percent of the maximum
we have at any time is called the humidity (which is exactly
that percent.)

The humidity is controlled by many things including amount
of surface water, rates of evaporation, and so on.

But the point is that we humans are NOT directly influencing
the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. We *are*
directly influencing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

----- Paul J. Gans

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Time to talk about Global Warming [was Re: Maccies arent fanatical? (by the way, what is a "Macc
    ... earth, so it isn't a greenhouse gas (according to this article-again, ... I don't think water vapor is a ... "Water Vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: Global warming deniers
    ... significantly altered CO2, the main greenhouse gas, in the atmosphere. ... If water vapor were the sole, ... The noncondensing greenhouse gases, lead by CO2, ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Global warming deniers
    ... significantly altered CO2, the main greenhouse gas, in the atmosphere. ... If water vapor were the sole, ... The maximum amount of water in the atmosphere is governed ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Global warming deniers
    ... significantly altered CO2, the main greenhouse gas, in the atmosphere. ... If water vapor were the sole, ... The maximum amount of water in the atmosphere is governed ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Global warming deniers
    ... significantly altered CO2, the main greenhouse gas, in the atmosphere. ... If water vapor were the sole, ... The maximum amount of water in the atmosphere is governed ...
    (talk.origins)