One of the Carbon Dioxide properties, and the major concern for us, is its ability to trap heat that would otherwise be radiated from the surface of the planet back into space.

How does it do this?

Along with methane and water, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) absorbs energy at lower wavelengths than the other major atmospheric gases Nitrogen (N2) and Oxygen (O2).

When a molecule of Carbon dioxide is exposed to long wavelength energy, it absorbs this energy and its speed increases. This added speed is an above-normal energy state, meaning it is hotter than it would normally be. Eventually this molecule will lose, or radiate, this heat again and return to its normal state.

The energy it releases is the same as the energy it absorbed, and so it not only absorbs but also emits long wavelength energy. This energy is radiated in all directions; upwards into space, and downwards back towards the Earth.

What is the Problem?

For every extra molecule of CO2 in the atmosphere, additional heat is reflected down back towards the Earth. This means that some heat that would otherwise have been lost from the atmosphere is trapped. Given large enough quantities of CO2 in the atmosphere the amount of trapped heat will cause a rise in the surface temperature.

This change in surface temperature can have dramatic effects. Even a slight rise in temperature will result in increased evaporation from the ocean surfaces. Water is also a Greenhouse gas, and the Greenhouse effect of added CO2 in the atmosphere is compounded by the additional water wapour it causes.

It is important to keep this most significant of carbon dioxide properties in mind, as doing so will motivate us to reduce our carbon emissions. Find more information about Carbon Dioxide and the Greenhouse Effect at my website, Green Planet Solar Energy

Roger Vanderlely,