need a well-sourced, concise description of CO2 as greenhouse gas...

[MnFats]

...got a Repub here insisting that CO2 does nothing in terms of pollution/global warming.

[gatorboy]

1. Have you tried the internet?

[MnFats]

3. ummm, yeah....just thought i could find it instantly here.

I am NOT being lazy. No sir.

[gatorboy]

6. I keed!! I keed!

Try wikipedia. Though few here vouch for it, you're bound to at least find a useful link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CO2

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. ...

[Buzz Clik]

5. You think that an IR spectrum will help this guy?

Repukes who have no concept of the greenhouse effect are not likely to understand the significance of your figure.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. No.

But I don't think anything will.

It's like asking for well sourced, concise proof that man walked on the moon.

[Buzz Clik]

9. Yes, I see your point.

[hobbit709]

4. Make him disprove it

Make him cite references, scientific studies, etc. Why should you do the work when he won't believe you anyway.

[jpak]

8. Here's one from Cornell

http://people.ccmr.cornell.edu/~plh2/group/glblwarm/GLBLWARM.HTM

and Wikipedia...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect

and ORNL...

http://cdiac.ornl.gov/pns/faq.html

Q. Why do certain compounds, such as carbon dioxide, absorb and emit infrared energy?

A. Molecules can absorb and emit three kinds of energy: energy from the excitation of electrons, energy from rotational motion, and energy from vibrational motion. The first kind of energy is also exhibited by atoms, but the second and third are restricted to molecules. A molecule can rotate about its center of gravity (there are three mutually perpendicular axes through the center of gravity). Vibrational energy is gained and lost as the bonds between atoms, which may be thought of as springs, expand and contract and bend. The three kinds of energy are associated with different portions of the spectrum: electronic energy is typically in the visible and ultraviolet portions of the spectrum (for example, wavelength of 1 micrometer, vibrational energy in the near infrared and infrared (for example, wavelength of 3 micrometers), and rotational energy in the far infrared to microwave (for example, wavelength of 100 micrometers). The specific wavelength of absorption and emission depends on the type of bond and the type of group of atoms within a molecule. Thus, the stretching of the C-H bond in the CH2 and CH3 groups involves infrared energy with a wavelength of 3.3-3.4 micrometers. What makes certain gases, such as carbon dioxide, act as "greenhouse" gases is that they happen to have vibrational modes that absorb energy in the infrared wavelengths at which the earth radiates energy to space. In fact, the measured "peaks" of infrared absorbance are often broadened because of the overlap of several electronic, rotational, and vibrational energies from the several-to-many atoms and interatomic bonds in the molecules. (Information from "Basic Principles of Chemistry" by Harry B. Gray and Gilbert P. Haight, Jr., published 1967 by W. A. Benjamin, Inc., New York and Amsterdam)

<end FAQ>

It's a start, but beware - true disbelievers will never be swayed by "sound science"...

[Lisa]

10. the EPA's description of the process

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/index.html

Energy from the Sun drives the Earth's weather and climate. The Earth absorbs energy from the Sun, and also radiates energy back into space. However, much of this energy going back to space is absorbed by “greenhouse” gases in the atmosphere (see Figure 1 of Greenhouse Effect). Because the atmosphere then radiates most of this energy back to the Earth’s surface, our planet is warmer than it would be if the atmosphere did not contain these gases. Without this natural "greenhouse effect," temperatures would be about 60ºF lower than they are now, and life as we know it today would not be possible.

During the past century humans have substantially added to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, oil and gasoline to power our cars, factories, utilities and appliances. The added gases — primarily carbon dioxide and methane — are enhancing the natural greenhouse effect, and likely contributing to an increase in global average temperature and related climate changes.

[Lisa]

11. from the UN Environment Programme -- how greenhouse gases work

http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/factors_influencing_the_greenhouse_effect

[Lisa]

12. and summaries of scientific work on global warming (1800s and earlier) with refs

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/Giants/Arrhenius/arrhenius_2.html
http://www.aip.org/history/climate/co2.htm
http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/globalchange/global_warming/03.html

People didn't just make up this stuff recently -- theories about global warming are built on a solid foundation of geophysical and atmospheric science. The physical properties of atmospheric trace gases -- particularly as they relate to various wavelengths of radiation -- have been known for many generations.

And by the way -- policies which attempt to reduce the global spread of human-made air pollution have existed for more than half a century (the international atmospheric test ban treaty, and even earlier if one counts local initiatives to reduce smog). Many of the measures proposed for mitigating CO2 have worked for other contaminants like sulfur dioxide (cap-and-trade systems, etc.) -- so we at least have something to go on when we're looking for precedents.