2007-04-09 14:21:05 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment
Water vapor is a naturally occurring greenhouse gas and accounts for the largest percentage of the greenhouse effect, between 36% and 90% [2]. Water vapor concentrations fluctuate regionally, but human activity does not directly affect water vapor concentrations except at local scales (for example, near irrigated fields).
2007-04-09 14:25:21 · answer #1 · answered by Ronald H 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
When water is heated it evapourates and becomes a gas. This gas is water vapour, virtually all water vapour is caused by the sun heating the seas and oceans. Water is continually being evapourated and returned back to earth in the form of rain and snow, this is known as the Water Cycle.
Water vapour is a weak greenhouse gas, it's not very good at trapping heat (something called Global Warming Potential or GWP). There's a lot more WV than all the other greenhouse gases combined and it contributes a significant amount to natural global warming - approximately half.
Unlike any other greenhouse gas it's not possible to increase levels of water vapour in the atmosphere, if we tried all that would happen is it would rain. Because levels of water vapour are constant it has no role to play in global warming (or cooling).
I've simplified the answer, it's actually much more complicated. E-mail me or post another question if you need anything more specific.
2007-04-09 15:21:46 · answer #2 · answered by Trevor 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Water vapor IS a greenhouse gas. All this means is that it traps infrared radiations that the earth emits into space. All molecules can occur in any state of mater (solid, liquid, gas) depending on the temperature. So water is not just a liquid, and in its gaseous form it is a greenhouse gas.
2007-04-09 15:05:22 · answer #3 · answered by jmh11x2 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No water is not a greenhouse gas.
Water is a liquid made-up of 2 Hydrogen atoms and 1 Oxygen atom both of which are not greenhouse gasses.
so water is not a greenhouse gas
2007-04-09 14:35:50 · answer #4 · answered by paul w 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
it is not a gas
you should say water vapour ,it is not the same as liquid water
and it is a great part of the green house effect
2007-04-09 20:44:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe the Supreme Court will rule that the EPA must regulate water vapor (steam) as a pollutant.
Sounds ludicrous, doesn't it?
But just last week they ruled that way about what YOU produce by BREATHING (Carbon Dioxide).
So STOP BREATHING out that POLLUTANT dammit.
2007-04-09 14:34:20 · answer #6 · answered by ExSarge 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Water vapor is.
2007-04-09 14:26:50 · answer #7 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
WUT!!! water is a LIQUID, not a gas. if it were a gas, it wouldnt b a greenhouse gas.
2007-04-09 14:24:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No its not
2007-04-09 14:49:23 · answer #9 · answered by roy40371 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋