What is it about?
Warming of the atmosphere by water vapor is upwards of a hundred times greater than that of carbon dioxide. Furthermore, the warming effects of water vapor and carbon dioxide work against each other in the atmosphere. Thus, the warming by water vapor cancels that of CO2 and controls atmospheric temperature. The angle of the sun in turn controls water vapor concentration.
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Why is it important?
This study was initiated because of calls for a severe reduction in the consumption of oil, natural gas and coal, i.e., the fossil fuels. Such proposed action has serious consequences because society today depends on fossil fuels to provide the energy we need to make the world a better and safer place. These calls to restrict fossil fuel consumption are based on the claim by some people that the CO2 released by burning fossil fuels causes climate change. This paper shows the claim is unfounded.
Perspectives
My career as an engineer depended on getting the science right, otherwise designs would fail and cause injury. This paper makes connections between several scientific disciplines to create an accurate overall picture of climate and ensure that the "science is right".
H. Douglas Lightfoot
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Back radiation versus CO2 as the cause of climate change, Energy & Environment, July 2017, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0958305x17722790.
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