What is the relationship between carbon dioxide and water vapor?
Both water vapor and CO2 are responsible for global warming, and once we increase the CO2 in the atmosphere, the oceans warm up, which inevitably triggers an increase in water vapor. But while we have no way to control water vapor, we can control CO2.
Why is carbon dioxide important as a greenhouse gas?
Carbon is in carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas that works to trap heat close to Earth. It helps Earth hold the energy it receives from the Sun so it doesn’t all escape back into space. If it weren’t for carbon dioxide, Earth’s ocean would be frozen solid.
Why do environmentalists seldom express concern about water vapor as a greenhouse gas?
Water vapor is actually the world’s most abundant greenhouse gas, but it is not tracked the same way as other greenhouse gases because it is not directly emitted by human activity and its effects are not well understood.
Why is water vapor an important greenhouse gas?
Water vapor is the most important greenhouse gas. It controls the Earth’s temperature.” Because these gases are not condensable at atmospheric temperatures and pressures, the atmosphere can pack in much more of these gases .
What is importance of water vapour in the atmosphere?
Water vapor is also the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Heat radiated from Earth’s surface is absorbed by water vapor molecules in the lower atmosphere. The water vapor molecules, in turn, radiate heat in all directions. Some of the heat returns to the Earth’s surface.
Why does water vapour cause global warming?
As the atmospheric temperature rises, more water is evaporated from ground storage, such as that found in our rivers, oceans, soils, and reservoirs. The released water vapor becomes a greenhouse gas where it then absorbs more energy radiated from the Earth and thus warms the atmosphere.