[spot1234]

Originally Posted by ThankyouMoneypenny

Bored Wombat,

I would love to see how I can view those experiments.

Davaris, the answer is probably not 'yes' to your question about hard evidence in warming the environment.

I believe the experiments BW is referring to merely show that CO2 absorbs radiation at certain wavelengths by differing amounts. No argument there. However, to then say that it therefore warms the environment is, I think, overstating its importance. It will have a theoretical effect but, as I have said early on in this thread, the environment is a complex place and it is extremely difficult to input all the variables into an experiment. Scientists can't even put all the variables into a model, let alone an actual experiment. I have no doubt that CO2 is a forcing agent, and that it is a 'greenhouse' gas but, in the same way that a greenhouse does not rely on the differential absorption properties of glass to heat the interior (blocking convection is a much greater effect), so too does the atmosphere not rely that much on CO2 for its warming. It is however, a factor, if small.

ps, If you increase CO2, then the absorption happens in a shorter distance (from the Earth's surface). Does this actually warm the whole atmosphere or just the bottom 5-10 meters or so? Open to comments.

Since you seem to be an expert on this, perhaps you can clarify something for me.

After the light has been absorbed by the gas; what happens to the energy if it doesn't warm it up?