http://www.clearlight.com/~mhieb/WVFossils/ice_ages.html
If ever you find yourself in a debate about global warming, be prepared. Here is a show stopper for most (that is if you are debating anyone with an incling of scientific intelligence, otherwise, don't waste your time).
Ask a Human Caused Global Warming activist if they know what the number 1 greenhouse gas on the planet is. After they tell you Carbon Dioxide, ask them if this is why "greenhouses" stay so warm. Next point out to them that plastic is not a very good insulator and ask them what the climate is in a greenhouse. Have them describe it. If they leave out that it is always very humid, help them.
Folks, the number 1 greenhouse gas in our atmosphere is water vapor. In fact, water vapor makes up 98% of our atmosphere and is, by far and away, the source of the earths insulation. See the link above to find out how much of the earth's "greenhouse gasses" are comprised of Carboon Dioxide when measured along with water vapor.
It is less than 1/2 of 1%. Of that 1/2 of 1%, only part of it is "manmade." Most of that 1/2 of 1% comes from natural causes, like the ocean.
BTW - Carbon Dioxide makes the oceans flourish as plankton thrives on it. The more CO2 in the ocean, the more life....so goes the circle of life.
Good luck!
> In fact, water vapor makes up 98% of our atmosphere ...
I don't know what planet you are from, but I like my atmosphere with at least a 3psi partial pressure of O2
good points
Uh, no. But you've got the right idea.
Snagged via Google:
Average composition of the atmosphere up to an altitude of 25 km.
Gas Name |
Chemical Formula |
Percent Volume |
Nitrogen |
N2 |
78.08% |
Oxygen |
O2 |
20.95% |
*Water |
H2O |
0 to 4% |
Argon |
Ar |
0.93% |
*Carbon Dioxide |
CO2 |
0.0360% |
Neon |
Ne |
0.0018% |
Helium |
He |
0.0005% |
*Methane |
CH4 |
0.00017% |
Hydrogen |
H2 |
0.00005% |
*Nitrous Oxide |
N2O |
0.00003% |
*Ozone |
O3 |
0.000004% |
While I'll grant that the world may be warming, and a bazillion cars spewing exhaust does have an impact, that impact is only a tiny part of what happens naturally. One volcano will blow more CO2 & other gludge into the atmosphere than several years of exhaust.
You do have a good point: there's about 10x as much H2O than CO2 in the atmosphere, and the former causes significantly more "global warming" per molecule than the latter. Interestingly, the only viable "green" alternative to oil (fuel cells) will replace CO2 spewage with H2O. Do the greens really want that?
The more CO2 in the ocean, the more life....so goes the circle of life.
######
Back in the days before the internet, the National Geographic magazine was one regular source of good information. I remember an article showing the cycle of carbon, rising in a gas, falling in rain into the oceans, etc etc.
I will never understand how human beings can think that we are more powerful than gravity and the power of the sun, and at the same time believe implicitly that we "evolved" from nothingness to our present delicately balanced state.
The water vapor content of the atmosphere is a climate feedback, not a climate forcing. Do you know the difference?