Re: Greenhouse Misconception

[paul o johnson <pojhome@FLASH.NET>]

Rick Tarara wrote:

> My take on some of these:
>
> > 2) The misconception is that absorption by the glass in greenhouses is
> > the main factor
> >      responsible for higher temperatures inside.
> > I always thought it was. What, then, is the main factor?
>
> Convection, or lack thereof is apparently the major factor although I still
> use the greenhouse (with an appropriate disclaimer) when trying to explain
> the global greenhouse effect.

I don't follow you, Rick. I can see where the absence of convection would keep
warmer air in the greenhouse (or in the lower atmosphere) but how does such
absence cause that air to be warmer in the first place? Isn't that due to solar
radiation into the enclosed space being greater than the air's radiation out?

poj