5 ms·

Heat is constantly lost to space as infrared radiation. The greenhouse effect slows this loss, and is driven by the output of "greenhouse gases" into the atmosp

Heat is constantly lost to space as infrared radiation. The greenhouse effect slows this loss, and is driven by the output of "greenhouse gases" into the atmosphere. These gasses absorb the infrared that would be lost to space, retaining them inside the "closed system". Greenhouse gasses have natural sources, but far and away the largest sources are manmade in the form of carbon dioxide as industrial byproduct, and methane as agricultural byproduct. This is why experts are so concerned: stopping production of manmade greenhouse gasses will not immediately reduce the amount of those gasses in the atmosphere, so heating will likely continue for many years after peak output.

PartiallyTyped 3y ago
EDIT: Apparently I typed the opposite thing of what I intended :upside_down:
- SonicScrub 3y ago
  I think you need to crack open a Thermodynamics textbook and re-lookup the definition of "open" and "closed" systems. Open systems are certainly capable of maintaining stable heat-balances, where net energy outflow equalizes to net heat inflow.
  - PartiallyTyped 3y ago
    The "not" was a mistype :( ... I meant that had earth been closed, then the temperature would be fixed and life [eventually] wouldn't be possible.
davis 3y ago
> stopping production of manmade greenhouse gasses will not immediately reduce the amount of those gasses in the atmosphere, so heating will likely continue for many years after peak output Regarding the stopping of manmade greenhouse gasses, the consensus has been changing over the last few years though and it's pretty wildly believed that the "heat in the pipeline" phenomenon isn't actually true. Here's the best summary on why zero emissions will mean an immediate end to global warming: https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-will-global-warming-stop-as-soon-as-net-zero-emissions-are-reached/ https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-will-global-warming-st...

PartiallyTyped 3y ago

EDIT: Apparently I typed the opposite thing of what I intended :upside_down:

SonicScrub 3y ago
I think you need to crack open a Thermodynamics textbook and re-lookup the definition of "open" and "closed" systems. Open systems are certainly capable of maintaining stable heat-balances, where net energy outflow equalizes to net heat inflow.
- PartiallyTyped 3y ago
  The "not" was a mistype :( ... I meant that had earth been closed, then the temperature would be fixed and life [eventually] wouldn't be possible.

davis 3y ago

> stopping production of manmade greenhouse gasses will not immediately reduce the amount of those gasses in the atmosphere, so heating will likely continue for many years after peak output Regarding the stopping of manmade greenhouse gasses, the consensus has been changing over the last few years though and it's pretty wildly believed that the "heat in the pipeline" phenomenon isn't actually true. Here's the best summary on why zero emissions will mean an immediate end to global warming: https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-will-global-warming-stop-as-soon-as-net-zero-emissions-are-reached/ https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-will-global-warming-st...