. Earth Science News .
Humidity increases greenhouse gas warming

Enhanced humidity resulting from more greenhouse gases is viewed as a major factor in projected warmer global temperatures.
by Staff Writers
College Station, Texas (UPI) Nov 11, 2008
U.S. scientists say if greenhouse gases levels are not reduced soon, significantly warmer global conditions are nearly a certainty during the next century.

Texas A&M University scientists Zhibo Zhan and Ping Yang, and Professor Andrew Dessler conducted a study of the Earth's temperature variations from 2003 to 2008. They discovered changes in the humidity of the atmosphere amplify warming due to greenhouse gas emissions alone. That, they said, confirms it is highly likely the Earth will experience several degrees of warming during the next century if nothing is done to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

Using measurements of water vapor from NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder aboard the Aqua satellite, the researchers confirmed that from 2003 to 2008, the humidity in the atmosphere followed temperatures during that five-year period.

Enhanced humidity resulting from more greenhouse gases is viewed as a major factor in projected warmer global temperatures, according to their research.

"This new data shows that as surface temperature increases, so does atmospheric humidity," Dessler said. "Thus, if we dump greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, we'll be making the atmosphere more humid. And since water vapor is itself a greenhouse gas, the increase in humidity amplifies the initial warming."

The study appeared recently in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
Climate Science News - Modeling, Mitigation Adaptation



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Current warming sharpest climate change in 5,000 years: study
Washington (AFP) Nov 6, 2008
Research on Arctic and North Atlantic ecosystems shows the recent warming trend counts as the most dramatic climate change since the onset of human civilization 5,000 years ago, according to studies published Thursday.







  • Ancient village at heart of China's quake tourism plans
  • Six months after deadly China quake, jobs are key to recovery
  • California readies for earthquake drill, conference
  • Flood-hit Vietnam capital moves to contain disease outbreaks

  • Humidity increases greenhouse gas warming
  • Global Warming Predicted To Hasten Carbon Release From Peat Bogs
  • World Needs Climate Emergency Backup Plan
  • Carbon Dioxide Levels Already In Danger Zone

  • Arctic Sea Ice Decline Shakes Up Ocean Ecosystems
  • New NASA Technique Measuring Glacier Driven Sea Level Changes
  • Paloma Still Intensifying And Turning Northward
  • CHRIS Satellite Imager Celebrates 7 Years Scientific Success

  • Dutch homes get warm water from disused coal mine
  • ConocoPhillips and CleanFUEL USA Launch Program To Increase Propane Fueling Sites
  • October OPEC Oil Output Reduced
  • Future Fuels Creates Pennsylvania Clean Coal Project

  • AIDS vaccines: New hope for problem-plagued path
  • Death By Hyperdisease
  • Experimental HIV vaccine may have increased infection risk: study
  • Seeing Life In Viruses

  • Life's Boiling Point
  • Spring Bloom Brings Jelly Balls To NSW Coast
  • Coral Reefs Found Growing In Cold, Deep Ocean
  • Jogger runs mile with rabid fox locked to arm

  • White House defends last-minute deregulation push
  • Smelly effluent mars affluent Dubai's beaches
  • Study: Biosolids pose little worker risk
  • China struggling to meet environment goals: official

  • China's media workers not in good physical shape: report
  • Scientists compare human, chimp genetics
  • World's tallest man riding high after becoming a dad
  • Ancient Bone Tool Sheds Light On Prehistoric Midwest

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement