SO many of the letters published in The Catholic Leader seem to dispute climate warming – to the point that the Leader is becoming a venue for people who seem to know little about climate and treat this subject as if belief or non-belief is an article of faith.
The effect of greenhouse gases can be explained in simple terms by referring to the behaviour of the main greenhouse gas which is water vapour.
The nightly weather reports of temperature show little variation in temperature for places near the coast (perhaps five to 10 degrees) and a much greater range for inland areas even up to 30 degrees between the minimum and maximum temperature for desert areas.
This is because land radiates heat constantly.
The radiated heat is absorbed by water vapour and re-radiated.
All has been nicely in balance until with modern industrialisation another greenhouse gas carbon dioxide has accumulated in the atmosphere.
Although carbon dioxide is in relatively small amounts the effect is rather like a bucket under a running tap with a hole in the side so the water running out balances the water running in.
A small amount of additional water running into the bucket would then eventually cause it to run over.
Reputable peer review publications in almost 100 per cent of occasions recognise man-made global warming – a fact we ignore at the peril of future generations.
PETER RYAN
Brighton, Qld
