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8.1. How do gases affect the earth's
temperature?
The earth's surface temperature
would be about 34°C (61°F) colder
than it is now if it were not for the
natural heat trapping effect of greenhouse
gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide, and, the most important one, water
vapor. More...
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8.2. What is the human contribution?
Greenhouse gases concentrations
have been stable over the past 10 000
years until several of them started increasing
with industrialization. Without control
measures, these man-made gases are expected
to produce over the next 50 to 100 years
a heat-trapping effect equivalent to more
than a doubling of the pre-industrial
carbon dioxide level. More...
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8.3. How could water vapor amplify global
warming?
Warmer air contains more
water vapor. Since water vapor is itself
a greenhouse gas, global warming could
be further enhanced by the increased amounts
of water vapor. More...
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8.4. What is the role of clouds?
Clouds affect the
heat balance of the Earth by reflecting
sunlight (a cooling effect) and
trapping infrared
radiation (a heating effect).
Their response to global warming
remains a major uncertainty in determining
the magnitude and distribution of
climate
change. More...
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