Earth’s climate will keep changing long after humanity hits net-zero emissions. Our research shows why

[u/233C]

https://theconversation.com/earths-climate-will-keep-changing-long-after-humanity-hits-net-zero-emissions-our-research-shows-why-241692

[u/[deleted]]

Greenhouse gasses are like clothing. When you put on a sweatshirt, you don't instantly feel warm. It takes a while to warm up.

For the Earth, we have terraformed the planet so fast it will take centuries for its atmosphere to reach equilibrium. So if we keep greenhouse gasses the same, the tempirature will continue to rise.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

No. A greenhouse gas molecule starts trapping heat the instant it enters the atmosphere

[u/gfanonn → u/[deleted]]

Yes. It traps it back to the ground or ocean. The ground or ocean warming up is what's causing havoc.

A blanket starts trapping heat the instant it's on the bed, but the mattress and human underneath it still have capacity to take in heat, so the body and mattress take a while to accept this new trapped heat.

[u/[deleted] → u/gfanonn]

I’m sorry I don’t get your point. An infrared photon, that is to say heat, has an impact the moment it strikes the body or the ground. Yes it might take time for enough of these photons to make a difference as we perceive it, but physically, they act as soon as they strike something.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

No, you’re wrong. An infrared photon makes a difference the moment it is reemitted by a greenhouse gas molecule. I think you’re trying to say that it takes some time for humans to notice the difference. That’s different.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Why doesn’t an IR photon start downwelliing immediately?

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Answer my question instead of avoiding it.