From: John Beckett 

"Mark"  wrote in message
news::
> John, I thought it was you that has continually said that none of us
> (including you) are qualified to comment on global warming

Yes  - more specifically, none of us are qualified to talk about the
physics involved.

However, I am qualified to state:
> it is absurd to say that 3E12 tons of CO2 doesn't matter, or that a
> 35% increase in CO2 is unimportant.

I was irritated that Geo was confusing the percentage of CO2 in the
atmosphere (0.038%), with the percentage by which CO2 has increased since
the industrial revolution (35%).

> miniscule increase in CO2 (I mean like, wow, from 200 something to 300
> something parts per **million**)

The point is that there is LOT of CO2 in the atmosphere (3E12 tons is a
really big number). Say whatever you like about it, but don't claim that it
is an insignificant number.

My quick calculations say that there is 5.8 kg of CO2 in the atmosphere for
every square meter on the earth's surface. The question (which none of us
are qualified to answer) is whether 5.8kg/m^2 is enough CO2 to
significantly capture escaping infrared radiation.

BTW does anyone have some good references for real numbers, such as I am
trying to show above. Most stuff I've seen just does a bunch of hand
waving.

John

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