Paul I used the word significant ... I am aware the sun emit IR but it does not emit in 10um (10000 nanometer) we are talking about with CO2 absorbing. On your graph above it ends at 2500 on the right so its 4 times that out of scale to the right.
co2 absorbs wavelengths of
2.7 microns
in this range of wavelengths there are apx 3um of wavelengths
that extend mostly from apx 1.8um to 2.7um
4.3 microns
in this range of wavelengths there are apx .7um of wavelengths
that extend mostly from apx 4.3um to 5um
15 microns
in this range of wavelengths there are apx 6 um of wavelengths
that extend mostly from apx 14um to 20 um
that is a grand total of 9.7um of wavelengths that can
absorb IR !!!
it took a while to find the above information.
but its not simply 10um
I must admit that sunlight really doesnt have much
incoming IR light that could be absorbed by co2.
here is an absorption graph that shows the wavelengths that
co2 molecules absorb.
[img]
http://nov79.com/gbwm/atmo.html[/img]
http://nov79.com/gbwm/atmo.htmlso I suppose that in order for a IR photon to be absorbed
by a co2 molecule after it is emitted from the earth would require that the emitted photon have a wavelength of one of
the three ranges of wavelengths 9.7um in total that can be absorbed by a co2 molecule.
2.7 microns
4.3 microns
15 microns
it doesnt look as if there is a serious threat because
there might not be a large number of objects on the earth
that would emit a photon of the required wavelengths.
so that at least comforts me in knowing that the requirements
are so narrow.
I suppose the next thing that I need to find out is the
percentage of emitted photons that are emitted in that really
narrow range of the 3 wavelength ranges.
but you guys have a nice time calling people names like the
real scientist that you obviously are. LOL
besides as a real scientist thats really the only tool that
you own anyway.
