Re: population growth & physics ed

["Tom K. McCarthy" <mcca6300@spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov>]

On Mon, 22 Jul 1996, Richard Stephen Halada wrote:

> Because it absorbs across the infrared spectrum, and because it 
> is released from the seas in large quantities as the world warms, water 
> vapor is the single most important greenhouse gas. The modest warming 
> caused by a carbon dioxide doubling releases water vapor, which warms the 
> world a little more and releases more water vapor....studies show the 
> water vapor feedback effect amplifies the temperature increase by a 
> factor of three..."

What if the world's automakers converted their engines over to hydrigen 
and oxygen combustion.  With the by-product being pure water, would the 
increase in water vapor have a worse effect than carbon dioxide?  Also, 
with many utility companies converting their trucks over to propane, why 
don't they go all the way?  The volatility of hydrogen vs. propane does 
not seem to be that significant with regards to safety concerns.  And, 
even if it is, the amount of hydrogen placed on board could be proportioned 
to the energy released if an explosion were to occur.  And, the nice 
thing about hydrogen use is that is could be produced by the same oil men 
out in the desert using solar power to electroyze water - this would 
solve the tremendous greed issue.

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Tom K. McCarthy   Email:mcca6300@spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov