Caro_lada t1_iyc1c4e wrote
You should also consider while vapour can act as an greenhouse gas, clouds (which are very small water droplets) are created from vapour as it condenses in the atmosphere and reflect the sun rays. They are thus doing the opposite of vapour. It is too cold in the upper atmosphere for the water to stay vapour for a longer time.
CMDR_kamikazze OP t1_iyc1u83 wrote
That's a common misconception. Clouds have a greenhouse effect too. They're just capturing the infrared (thermal) energy in the atmosphere in one place, and releasing it in another one, thus trapping and then moving energy around the globe through weather systems. Additional clouds would mean more energy would be trapped and moved around.
Caro_lada t1_iycbw2j wrote
That is also partially correct. Clouds reflect energy, they don't capture and release it. Both going outwards and coming inwards. As more energy is coming from the sun to earth than vice versa they're not bad per se.
Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments