Re: [Phys-l] Greenhouse gases

[Bernard Cleyet <bernardcleyet@redshift.com>]

Here's a follow up for Ken Fox:

http://www.biophotonicsworld.org/links/284

Applies to water, IIRC, the most important greenhouse molecule.  The  
mechanism(s) described apply to all molecules.  Atomic processes are  
irrelevant to the wavelengths (energies) of concern.


bc discovered this site on backup disc from 2005!.  Thinks this  
subject (greenhouse) is of recurring interest.


On 2009, Jun 11, , at 08:04, Bernard Cleyet wrote:

inserted:

Regarding your mechanism question, its dealt with in most optics  
texts, e.g. Jenkins and White.

Again not the basic mechanism you desire, but that of simple global  
warming (greenhouse) is found in wiki's Greenhouse effect page.


> > Ken Fox wrote:
> > > I am not at all sure what the mechanism for the process in this  
> > > question is.
> > > This comes from a recent IB Physics exam, aimed at a Honors HS or  
> > > early
> > > college level student. I'd like to be able to explain it on that  
> > > level.
> > >
> > > Greenhouse gases
> > > A reflect IR radiation but absorb UV radiation.
> > > B reflect UV radiation but absorb IR radiation
> > > C transmit IR radiation but absorb UV radiation
> > > D transmit UV radiation but absorb IR radiation
> > >
> > > I apparently don't know what happens to photons when they  
> > > interact with any
> > > kind of material, (metals, dielectrics or gases) to ultimately  
> > > just be
> > > absorbed, transmitted or reflected. Is there a brief answer?
> > >
> > > Thank you
> > >
> > > Ken Fox