and is water vapor a "greenhouse gas?" if so is it a main one?
2007-09-29 04:50:39 · 4 answers · asked by Michael Y 4 in Environment ➔ Global Warming
Water vapour is the primary greenhouse gas both in terms of volume and it's contribution to natural global warming. It exists almost exclusively within natural cycles, the human contribution to atmospheric water vapour is miniscule.
The main natural greenhouse gases in terms of their contribution* to climate change are water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane.
The main manmade greenhouse gases in terms of their contribution* to climate change are carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-22 and Freon being a tradename for this gas)
* Contribution is not the same as concentration or volume as the different gases have varying 'Global Warming Potentials' varying from almost 0 for water vapour to 31,500 for sodium hexaflouride, CO2 has a value of 1 and is the benchmark by which all other gases are measured.
2007-09-30 05:45:59 · answer #1 · answered by Trevor 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Water vapor is the main greenhouse gas.
But excess water in the atmosphere just falls out as precipitation, fast (in a few hours). So excess water can't cause climate change.
Excess CO2 stays in the atmosphere for years. Which is why it's the cause of climate change.
More details here:
http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/climate-change/dn11652
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php?p=142
2007-09-29 11:55:55 · answer #2 · answered by Bob 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Yes, water vapour is a greenhouse gas. Also CO2, CH4 ,H20,HFC and NOx.
2007-09-29 12:06:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
water vapor =]]]] that what causes rain
2007-09-29 13:12:18 · answer #4 · answered by Bree 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋