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It's a reasonable question. While I am not a climatologist... Anthropogenic evaporation is probably minuscule next to deviations in natural evaporation due to
by chris_va 11y ago
It's a reasonable question. While I am not a climatologist...
Anthropogenic evaporation is probably minuscule next to deviations in natural evaporation due to small changes in temperature. A single hurricane, for example, dumps more power (as heat) than all human power generation.
Also, unlike CO2, I would also guess that atmospheric water probably reaches equilibrium much faster (half life ~1 year instead of ~30 years).
- dnautics 11y agoThere is basically no equilibrium condition here. If you mean that there is a more 'inelastic' equilibrium constant, then keep in mind that the concentration level governed by such a constant is dependent on rate in versus rate out, and there are certainly ongoing inputs of ag water. We've completely drained several seas and underground aquifers as a result of human activity in the last 50 years.
- chris_va 11y agoThe amount of water used globally (approx 10^13 m^3) is only about 2.5% the total yearly evaporation off of the ocean (approx 4*10^14 m^3). I suspect small changes in climate have a much greater effect on net evaporation.