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From: morse@leadsv.UUCP (Terry Morse)
Newsgroups: net.origins
Subject: greenhouse effect
Message-ID: <816@leadsv.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Feb-86 21:10:50 EST
Article-I.D.: leadsv.816
Posted: Thu Feb 13 21:10:50 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Feb-86 01:35:23 EST
Distribution: na
Organization: Lockheed, Sunnyvale CA
Lines: 23

OK, Ted has denounced the 'super greenhouse theory' as the ravings of Carl
Sagan.  But I am not so quickly convinced as Ted is.  Knowing little about
the stated theory, let's explore the possibility:

1)	CO2 is quite transparent to visible light, the kind that is emitted
by the sun.  Thus sunlight could very easily penetrate deeply into an
atmosphere composed mostly of CO2.

2)	CO2 is a very good absorber of infra-red radiation.  Thus the
infra-red radiation from the surface would quickly be absorbed near the
surface of the planet.  The net effect would be a high temperature gradient
and violent convection currents.  The surface of such a planet would not be
a very nice place.

3)	The CO2 concentration in our atmosphere is quite low, yet modest
increases in CO2 can raise the average surface temperature by a couple of
degrees.  What would happen in a planet with a major concentration of CO2?

Any comments from someone whose initials aren't TH?
-- 

Terry Morse  (408)743-1487
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