Re: greenhouse misconception

["Rick Tarara" <rbtarara@sprynet.com>]

While I've been converted (due to previous discussions on the list about
this topic) to qualify my 'greenhouse' discussions with a disclaimer that
for real greenhouses the convection process actually dominates, it seems to
me that if we take our greenhouse, complete with contents, make it air
tight, and put it in outer space (in sunlight) it should work as advertised
(although not so efficiently).   It is still, IMO, a good peg on which to
hang the global discussion.

rick

-----Original Message-----
From: William Beaty <billb@eskimo.com>

> Chris Bohren in "Clouds in a glass of beer" points out that the thickness
> of a glass greenhouse is also an issue.  For dead-still nonconvecting air
> with thick-glass greenhouses, the "greenhouse effect" could very well
> dominate. Authors who use the traditional explanation of greenhouse
> operation aren't entirely wrong, they just have ignored the more common
> process.