Can Certain Gases Diminish the Greenhouse Effect?

[Loren Booda]

Whereas atmospheric water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and ozone contribute to the greenhouse effect, is there any gas which diminishes it?

 

[russ_watters]

Not sure it is really possible for there to be a negative greenhouse gas. A gas either absorbs IR or it doesn't!

 

[Topher925]

Water vapor, aka clouds, reflect light from the sun back into outer space rather effectively.

 

[russ_watters]

Water vapor, aka clouds, reflect light from the sun back into outer space rather effectively.

...and back to earth, though clouds are not technically "water vapor".

The reason water vapor makes for a good greenhouse gas is that it is transparent to visible light but not very transparent to IR, so the light goes through the atmosphere and hits the earth, then the heat radiated from the Earth is trapped by the water vapor.

 

[chemisttree]

Whereas atmospheric water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and ozone contribute to the greenhouse effect, is there any gas which diminishes it?

Sulfate aerosols do this. They nucleate clouds in an atmosphere that also contains water vapor. Therefore, I believe that SO2 is the gas you are looking for. Dimethyl sulfide is another one. Both of these gases are precursor gases to a sulfate aerosol that condenses clouds and increases albedo.

 

[Loren Booda]

Sulfate aerosols do this. They nucleate clouds in an atmosphere that also contains water vapor. Therefore, I believe that SO2 is the gas you are looking for. Dimethyl sulfide is another one. Both of these gases are precursor gases to a sulfate aerosol that condenses clouds and increases albedo.

Aren't some sulfate aerosols products of oceanic microbes?

 

[chemisttree]

Aren't some sulfate aerosols products of oceanic microbes?

Dimethyl sulfide is ...

 

[kzeybelay1]

Water vapor, aka clouds, reflect light from the sun back into outer space rather effectively.

thank you for your message

 

[kzeybelay1]

could i get water immedietly if i react hydrogen with oxygen in laboratory?

 

[Borek]

Water is a product of this reaction, so in a way yes - you have it immediately. Fast and loud.

--

 

[PhaseShifter]

Water is a product of this reaction, so in a way yes - you have it immediately. Fast and loud.

...and a little bit on the warm side for most people's tastes.