Some people assert that CO2 can only absorb EMR of specific wavelengths. Some people, particularly people with physics degrees, should know better.
Trying to find something simple but relatively correct, I came upon the following –
“How fast an atom (and electrons) vibrates determines the oscillation (frequency) of the EM radiation it emits.
A real object contains atoms that are oscillating at a variety of frequencies. They have various amounts of kinetic energy. The temperature of the object reflects the average kinetic energy of its atoms. That average determines the general frequency of EM radiation it emits, what colour it glows when it’s hot.
The emission spectrum of black body EM radiation reflects a whole variety of frequencies, or wavelengths, of photons, with a majority vibrating at some particular wavelength. The peak wavelength is the average energy of the atoms in the object. The overall average of thermal energies is what the thermometer reads. There are no forbidden photon wavelengths in black body radiation. Thermal radiation, and the black body spectrum of that radiation, depends only on the temperature of the object, not on its elemental make up.”
Note the final sentence –
“Thermal radiation, and the black body spectrum of that radiation, depends only on the temperature of the object, not on its elemental make up.”
Anyone that thinks that CO2 can only emit certain wavelengths at say, 20 C, and that measuring the presence of these wavelengths can establish that it is CO2, rather than O2, CO, or even C, in a pitch black remote environment, is bonkers. Probably a Warmist.
Discussions involving the well known absorption and emission spectra of gasses are irrelevant, in the context of unexcited gases.
Excited neon emits a characteristic lighted. Non excited neon is indistinguishable by emitted radiation from CO2 at, say, 20 C.
No warming at all due to CO2.
Man and his works affect many things. Weather and hence climate is probably one. Increased heat around the globe is another. Albedo changes relating in both local heating – areas of roads, buildings, cleared land – and cooling – greening of deserts, reflective particulates in atmosphere – affect the surface and atmosphere.
Try to quantify the impact, and you will assuredly fail. Try to predict the future of an unpredictable chaotic system, and you will assuredly fail.
VP’s effort is laudable, but ultimately pointless, as are all efforts based on false premises.
Cheers.
