Importance of variations in atmospheric composition
H2O, CO2, O3, & CH4 are important in the heat budget of the atmosphere-ocean system
All are greenhouse gasses,i.e. absorb IR radiation emitted at surface
- H2O is the most significant greenhouse gas
- O3 controls stratospheric heat content
- CO2 has low concentration but absorbs IR radiation that would otherwise pass through an ‘IR window’
- CH4 also low concentration but absorbs IR radiation that would otherwise pass through an ‘IR window