Difference between revisions of "Super Greenhouse Gases"
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| − | Super Greenhouse Gases (SGG) are hundreds or thousands of times more powerful than CO2 in warming planets, and are highly regulated on Earth for that reason. On Mars, which is too cold, long lived Super Greenhouse Gases (SGG) are considered | + | Super Greenhouse Gases (SGG) are hundreds or thousands of times more powerful than CO2 in warming planets, and are highly regulated on Earth for that reason. On Mars, which is too cold, long lived Super Greenhouse Gases (SGG) are considered an economic and desirable way to warm the planet. Types of gases which are long lived under Martian conditions are especially valuable for this purpose. |
| − | == Discussion of Greenhouse Gases == | + | ==Discussion of Greenhouse Gases== |
| − | Planetary atmospheres warm planets by allowing light to hit the world, but slowing the radiation of infrared (heat energy) leaving the world. Without our atmosphere, Earth would have a sub freezing temperature of -10 C. However, not all gases warm planets equally. Some such as oxygen (O2), and nitrogen (N2) are transparent to heat energy. Some slow the radiation of heat to space. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas which is causing the Earth to warm as it concentration increases in Earth's atmosphere. The strength of other green house gases are measured relative to carbon dioxide. So we might that that methane is 80 times more powerful than CO2 during the 20 years it is expected to remain in the atmosphere. Water (H2O) is a powerful greenhouse gas, but it rapidly leaves the atmosphere as rain and snow. Carbon dioxide remains in the air for a long time. == | + | Planetary atmospheres warm planets by allowing light to hit the world, but slowing the radiation of infrared (heat energy) leaving the world. Without our atmosphere, Earth would have a sub freezing temperature of -10 C. However, not all gases warm planets equally. Some such as oxygen (O2), and nitrogen (N2) are transparent to heat energy. Some slow the radiation of heat to space. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas which is causing the Earth to warm as it concentration increases in Earth's atmosphere. The strength of other green house gases are measured relative to carbon dioxide. So we might that that methane is 80 times more powerful than CO2 during the 20 years it is expected to remain in the atmosphere. Water (H2O) is a powerful greenhouse gas, but it rapidly leaves the atmosphere as rain and snow. Carbon dioxide remains in the air for a long time. |
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| + | Many gases will help retain heat, but each is best at trapping specific wavelengths of infrared radiation. To warm Mars, we would wish to pick gases which block 'windows' where heat can escape from Mars. (There is plenty of CO2 on Mars, and if it warms water (H2O) will also be more common in the air. So gases which block wavelengths that these two compounds don't are of especial interest. | ||
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| + | == Super Greenhouse Gases (SGG) == | ||
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| + | If megatonnes of gases are to be created | ||
Revision as of 15:20, 8 May 2021
Super Greenhouse Gases (SGG) are hundreds or thousands of times more powerful than CO2 in warming planets, and are highly regulated on Earth for that reason. On Mars, which is too cold, long lived Super Greenhouse Gases (SGG) are considered an economic and desirable way to warm the planet. Types of gases which are long lived under Martian conditions are especially valuable for this purpose.
Discussion of Greenhouse Gases
Planetary atmospheres warm planets by allowing light to hit the world, but slowing the radiation of infrared (heat energy) leaving the world. Without our atmosphere, Earth would have a sub freezing temperature of -10 C. However, not all gases warm planets equally. Some such as oxygen (O2), and nitrogen (N2) are transparent to heat energy. Some slow the radiation of heat to space. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas which is causing the Earth to warm as it concentration increases in Earth's atmosphere. The strength of other green house gases are measured relative to carbon dioxide. So we might that that methane is 80 times more powerful than CO2 during the 20 years it is expected to remain in the atmosphere. Water (H2O) is a powerful greenhouse gas, but it rapidly leaves the atmosphere as rain and snow. Carbon dioxide remains in the air for a long time.
Many gases will help retain heat, but each is best at trapping specific wavelengths of infrared radiation. To warm Mars, we would wish to pick gases which block 'windows' where heat can escape from Mars. (There is plenty of CO2 on Mars, and if it warms water (H2O) will also be more common in the air. So gases which block wavelengths that these two compounds don't are of especial interest.
Super Greenhouse Gases (SGG)
If megatonnes of gases are to be created
