How does WATER VAPOR contribute to global warming?

Answer 1

There are a number of gases which help warm the planet from what it would be with no atmosphere. Most people know that carbon dioxide is one of them, but water vapor is actually the most important and contributes the most to making our planet livable. Unlike carbon dioxide, it is somewhat self-regulating because it can rain out of the atmosphere. However, the relative humidity stays about constant at 80% over the tropical oceans even as the temperature changes. What this means is that in terms of absolute humidity there will be more water vapor in the atmosphere as the Earth warms, perhaps initially due to increased carbon dioxide. That will cause more heat energy returned to Earth by the water vapor, which will further increase the temperature, which will increase the water vapor more, and so on. So there is a somewhat scary feedback mechanism that operates with water vapor. It's difficult to assess how large this effect will be without running global climate models.

Answer 2

Some gases like carbondioxide,methane,ozone and water vapour absorb the Infra-red radiations and are called important "greenhouse gases".Among these, water vapour is a powerful absorber of IR heat radiation that is emitted by the Earth's surface.
In fact the atmosphere is almost transparent to the incident solar radiation which means it is not directly heated by the sun.The incoming IR radiation travels through the atmosphere without heating it much and heats the earth's surface first.The reflected radiation from the surface is a long wave IR radiation which heats the atmosphere above it by conduction.It is this radiation which is almost fully absobed by the water vapour raising the air temperature.
Further, this moist air near the surface re-radiates this long wave radiations in all directions keeping all the heat waves inside the earth's atmosphere and thereby not allowing the space between the earth and above to cool appreciably.So, water vapour also contributes to the global warming.Due to some reason ,if the moisture content in the atmosphere increases from the present level,it will accelerate the process of global warming.

Answer 3

If water vapor is contributing to global warming than we are all so very screwed ... Being that theres great deal of moisture in the air at any given time.. You know world being 2/3 water and all its a wonder that, that evil water vapor hasnt heated up the world 1000s of years ago.... Think we have more to worry about than water vapor....ehhhh

Answer 4

It is NOT water vapor that contributes global warming. It is carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming. Because carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas*, not water vapor.
* Greenhouse gas means the gas traps in heat easily. So the CO2 (carbon dioxide) on the earth traps in heat that causes global warming.

Answer 5

The sources i've got suggested look to declare that Water Vapor is an "result" and not a "reason". i.e. that the better CO2 content motives greater water vapor to be interior the air. i think of that's quite a count of deforestation... not having sufficient timber to consume all that carbon dioxide, and keeping wooded area levels, organic parks and making suitable use of land is a great impact on how lots CO2 is interior the ambience and how that contributes to worldwide Warming.

Answer 6

sun sends IR rays ofshort wavelength to earth. in turn earth sends IRrays of long wavelength back. but water vapours act as a cover and don't allow the heat radiated by earth to escape.thus they contribute to global warming.

Answer 7

hi,
i gave my thought to yis ques , i come to conclusion that water vapour is formed by absorbing large amont of energy.
like co2 or other gasses it act as heat absorbent .
when tis condences to water droplets it gives out large amount of heat causing temperature of surrounding to increase.

Answer 8

A natural environment inbalance