Global Warming: Does CO2 and CO float or sink in air?

Question

If Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide are major contributors to the Global Warming crisis, why haven't we been given some of the basic facts concerrning these gases? For example, I don't recall ever hearing if Carbon Dioxide or Carbon Monoxide rise in the atmosphere from ground level or if they sink in the average Earth atmosphere. I know that Carbon Monoxide reverts to Carbon Dioxide rather quickly. Given this set up...Which is the worst polluter - a CO2 Emitter way up in the high altitudes, or a CO2 emitter at ground level? I ask this because the Ozone Layer which is one of our big concerns is way up in the stratosphere (if I named that layer correctly.

Answer 1

Good point. Another one is that CFC's are ALSO heavier than air. So how does all that stuff get up there, HMMMM??????

What nobody wants to admit is that jet aircraft put more greenhouse gases into the stratosphere than anything that ground transportation can do. My dad recognized that years ago when he was working at Du Pont. Of course, nobody wants to admit that because it would mean cutting way back on air transportation, even military.

Answer 2

Well, part of the problem is that CO and CO2 are very close in molecular weight to atmospheric gases, so with winds and normal convection, it can stay mixed in the atmosphere fairly well.

The troposphere is about 73% nitrogen (N2) which has an atomic weight of 28. CO is also 28 and CO2 is 44 (heavier). This means in theory if the atmosphere were still, CO2 would eventually fall down to the bottom of the atmosphere. However, winds and the earth's surface heating will keep it aloft indefinitely, since they are much stronger than the difference in molecular mass between the gases.

Higher altitude CO2 is more of a problem because it tends to reflect heat back to the surface more than other gases, however, a low-altitude source of CO2 would eventually get kicked up to the upper atmosphere.

The Ozone layer is more susceptible to damage from compounds such as chloroflorocarbons (CFCs) than CO2.

Answer 3

Well I don't much see your point.
(plus i hate the fact that your organization skills are crap; I'm talking about your one parapragh that could be about three.)

I haven't ever heard of a light gas that sinks. Since CO2 is lighter than most atmospheres in nature. This is due to the fact that pure CO2 is, well, more pure. Regular atmosphere air is much more than just CO or just Oxygen.

Another thing, if you want to figure out anyhting about molecules and pur CO2, you virtually have to either pay big bucks going to college or educate yourself trying to find reliable sources.
(Trust me, it's more rewarding than listening to scientists.)