Biology Cabinet
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THE TOTAL EMISSIVITY OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND ITS EFFECT ON THE TROPOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE
Scientific Research Director at Biology Cabinet
May 12, 2010
(Additional editing of this English text by TS)
This didactic article was Peer Reviewed by scientists of the University Regiomontana on June 28, 2010.
Quote:
Nahle, N. Total Emissivity of Carbon Dioxide and its Effect on the Tropospheric Temperature. 12 May 2010. Biology Cabinet at San Nicolas de los Garza, N. L.
Abstract:
By applying generally accepted algorithms on radiative heat transfer, verified through experimentation by Hottel(1), Leckner(2) and other contemporary scientists and engineers(3)(4)(5), I have found that the carbon dioxide molecules posses a low total emissivity at the current density of CO2 in the atmosphere.
Introduction:
The formula applied by several authors on radiative heat transfer for calculating the atmospheric temperature anomaly caused by carbon dioxide is as follows:
ΔT = α (ln ([ga] ∞ / [ga]st) / 4 (σ) (T)^3
(Formula 1)
(Formula 1)Where ΔT is the change of temperature, α is the climate sensitivity of the absorbent gas (5.35 W/m^2 for CO2 at 1000 K of temperature, 1 atm of total pressure and 0 of distance), [[ga] ∞ is for the instantaneous concentration of the absorbent gas, [ga]st is the standard concentration of the absorbent gas, σ is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant (5.6697 x 10^-8 W/m^2 K^4), and T is the standard temperature (290 K).
Although this formula has been widely used, several factors are missing that have a definitive influence on the results. Exempli gratia, it fails to account for the sphericity of the system, the partial pressure of the absorbent gas and its buoyancy.
Another problem with the formula is that it represents homogeneous values for the total emissivity and total absorptivity of the absorbent gas, which is absolutely at odds with what has been observed and verified through experimentation because the total emissivity and total absorptivity of any substance changes in proportion to its partial pressure in any given environment.
The surrounding temperature also imparts a significant influence on the total emissivity and total absorptivity of any substance; the same can be said for the distance which separates the emissive system from the absorbent system. None of these factors are accounted for in the formula derived from the Stefan-Boltzmann principle, which is appropriate when considering blackbodies, but absolutely inappropriate when considering gray bodies at different concentrations in a given medium, such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The appropriate formula for obtaining the total emissivity of carbon dioxide is as follows:
ECO2 = 1-[(a-1 * 1-PE / a + b – (1 + PE)) * e [-c (Log10 (paL) m / paL)^2]] * (ECO2)0 (Modest. 2003. Pp. 339-346) (4) (F. 2)
T = 35 °C = 308 K
PE = effective pressure of the absorbent gas (p + 0.28 pa) / p0.
p = Total pressure of the mixed gases (1 bar for the atmosphere at sea level).
pa = Partial pressure of the absorbent gas.
(paL) m = Partial pressure of the absorbent gas (a) modified by Planck’s function.
(paL)0 = partial pressure of the absorbent gas (a) at L = 0.
paL = Partial pressure of the absorbent gas (a) at L = 0.1 m.
a, b, c = Proportionality constants.
(ECO2)0 = Emissivity of the CO2 at (L = 0, p = 1 bar, T = 373 K and pCO2 = 0.03 bar cm) = 0.0016, which can be also iterated from the graphs on the total emissivity of the carbon dioxide published in books on Heat Transfer. [Hottel (1954), Leckner (1972), Pitts & Sissom (1998), Modest (2003), Manrique (2002)]
Example:
Obtaining the emissivity of CO2, the normal intensity of the radiation, the normal intensity of the radiative heat transfer of CO2, and the change of temperature caused by the CO2 if:
a) The percentage of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere is 0.034% (present percentage)
b) The total pressure of the air is 1.01325 bar (real value)
c) The current temperature of the surface is 330 K (instantaneous temperature of the local land surface today at 22 hrs UT)
d) The current temperature of the air is 308 K (instantaneous temperature of the air above the reported surface temperature today at 22 hrs UT)
Obtaining the total emissivity of carbon dioxide
First, let us obtain the total emissivity of carbon dioxide at its current concentration in the atmosphere. To do this, we will use the following formula:
E CO2 / (ECO2)0 = 1-[(a-1 * 1-PE / a + b-(1+ PE)) * e [-c (Log10 (paL) m / paL)^2]] (4) (F. 2)
(F. 2)Known magnitudes:
(ECO2)0 at T = 373 K and p = 1 bar = 0.0016 (2) (See Formula 3)
t = 308 K / 373 K = 0.82
T0 = 373 K
a = 1 + 0.1 / t^1.45 = 1 + 0.1 / 0.82^1.45 = 1.45
b = 0.23
c = 1.47
pCO2 = 0.00034 bar
pabs = 1 bar
p0 (absolute pressure) = 1 bar
PE = pabs + [0.28 (pCO2)] / p0 = 1 bar + [0.28 (0.00034 bar) / 1 = 1.0001 bar
(PCO2L) m / (PCO2L) 0 = 0.225 * t^2 (if t > 0.7) = 0.151
(PCO2L) m = (0.225 * t^2) * (PCO2L) 0 = 0.151 * 0.034 bar cm = 0.005134 bar cm
PCO2L = 0.00034 bar m = 0.034 bar cm
T = 308 K
Emissivity of carbon dioxide at its current concentration in the atmosphere:
FORMULA:
ECO2 = 1-[(a-1 * 1-PE / (a + b) - (1+ PE)) * e [-c (Log10 (paL) m / paL)^2]] * (ECO2)0(Formula 2)
(Formula 2)Introducing magnitudes:
ECO2 = 1- [(1.45-1 * 1-1.0001 bar / (1.45 + 0.23) - (1 + 1.0001 bar)) * e [-1.47 (Log10 (0.005134 bar cm /0.034 bar cm))^2]] * 0.0016
ECO2 = 1- [(0.45 * -0.0001 bar / (1.68) - (2.0001)) * e [-1.47 (Log10 (0.005134 bar cm /0.034 bar cm))^2]] * 0.0016
ECO2 = 1- [(-0.000045 bar / -0.3201 bar)) * e [-1.47 (Log10 (0.005134 bar cm /0.034 bar cm)^2)]] * 0.0016
ECO2 = 1 – [(0.00014 * 0.3712)] * 0.0.0016 = (0.999948) (0.0016) = 0.0017
Actually, the total emissivity of the carbon dioxide at its current density in the atmosphere is quite low. The total absorptivity of the carbon dioxide at its current concentration in the atmosphere is 0.0017.
Therefore, for an air temperature of 308 K (35 °C), the carbon dioxide contributes with 0.135 K. The remainder thermal effect of carbon dioxide is exclusively of cooling of the surface and other masses of more efficient absorbent gases.
Another formula for calculating the total emissivity of the carbon dioxide is derived from the formula above mentioned, which applies especially at temperatures below 1000 K, e.g. the temperatures of the Earth’s atmosphere at different altitudes and partial pressures of carbon dioxide. The formula is as follows:
ECO2 = [e ((|√ Log10 (290 K * T∞)| / (- c * 1 K)] * [pCO2 * 100 / 5 (pabs)] (Formula 3)
(Formula 3)Where T∞ is for the instantaneous temperature, c is a proportionality constant (1.47), pCO2 is for the instantaneous concentration of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and pabs is for the absolute pressure of the atmosphere.
EXAMPLE:
The proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is 0.038%, the absolute pressure (pabs) at the sea level is 1 atm, and the instantaneous temperature (T∞) of the air is 32 °C. Calculate the Total Emissivity of the carbon dioxide under these given conditions.
Known magnitudes:
Percentage of CO2 in the atmosphere = 0.038%
T∞ = 32 °C + 273 = 305 K
c = - 1.47
pabs = 1 atm.
pCO2 =?
Before proceeding on the calculation, we proceed to obtain the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as from its present mass fraction; for doing this, we divide the proportion of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by 100 and multiply the result by 1 atm:
pCO2 = (0.038%/100) * 1 atm = 0.00038 atm.
Introducing magnitudes:
ECO2 = [e ((√ |Log10 (290 K * T∞)|) / (- c * 1 K))] * (pCO2 * 100 / 5 (pabs)) (Formula 3)
(Formula 3)ECO2 = [e ((√ |Log10 (290 K * 305 K)|) / (- 1.47 * 1 K)] * (0.00038 atm * 100 / 5 (1 atm))
ECO2 = [e (2.24 K / -1.47 K)] * (0.038 atm / 5 atm) = (0.218) (0.0076) = 0.0017
Something valuable to emphasize is that the total emissivity of the carbon dioxide decreases as the density of the gas in the atmosphere increases, as long as the temperature remains constant; as well, when increasing the temperature of the atmosphere, the emissivity of the carbon dioxide decreases logarithmically. This phenomenon is easily observable in the tables on the Total Emissivity of the carbon dioxide obtained by means of experimentation by Hottel (1) and Leckner (2) which have been published in many modern texts on Heat Transfer. The following graph illustrates the mentioned negative feedback:
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It's not the carbon dioxide!
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This graph shows the total emissivity of the carbon dioxide at increasing partial pressures as well as a comparison between the total emissivity of the carbon dioxide against the effective pressure of the carbon dioxide. The red bar indicates the total emissivity of the carbon dioxide after doubling its partial pressure in the atmosphere (0.0006 atm m).
Doubling the density of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes the total emissivity of the carbon dioxide decreases, as long as the radiant energy emitted by the surface does not increase causing an increase of the air temperature; therefore, the total emissivity of the carbon dioxide is inversely proportional to its effective pressure and, consequently, to its density in the atmosphere. The same effect has been verified on the tables of total emissivity of the carbon dioxide obtained by Hottel, Leckner and other contemporary scientists (1)(2)(3)(4). This fact confirms that the carbon dioxide operates as a coolant of the atmosphere and the surface, not as a warmer of the mentioned systems. (6)
Note: For obtaining the pressure of the atmosphere at any altitude, the following formula is applied:
p = p0 * e (h/h0). (Formula 4)
(Formula 4) In Earth, p0 = 1 atm, and h0 = 7 Km.
For example, if the concentration of the carbon dioxide were homogeneous in the whole volume and the pulling of the Earth’s gravity on the mass of air didn’t change with the amplification of the radius of the mass of air, at 10 meters of altitude, the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide would be 0.0003395 atm; at 100 m of altitude, the pCO2 would be 0.000335 atm; at 1000 m of altitude, the pCO2 would be 0.00029 atm, and at 7000 km of altitude, the pCO2 would be 0.00014 atm.
However, the concentration of the carbon dioxide decreases with altitude and its density is not the same from one mass of air to another; therefore, the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide above 10 meters of altitude is by far lower than the calculated partial pressure by the explained formula in this note. From this observation, it is evident that the practice of multiplying the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide measured at an altitude of one meter by the total length of the column of air is a flawed incoherent technique.
For obtaining the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide at its maximum pressure, i.e. at 0 m above sea level, we use the following formula:
pCO2 = pabs * % CO2 / 100 (1 atm = 1.03 Kg/cm2). (Formula 5)
(Formula 5)pCO2 = 1.03 Kg cm^2 * 0.038% / 100% = 0.00039 Kg/cm^2 = 0.00038 atm.
The next graph illustrates the change of partial pressure of the carbon dioxide with altitude:
Now I will proceed to obtain the change of temperature caused by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere at realistic current conditions.
To obtain the change of temperature caused by the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, we need to know the energy flux in the whole system as energy is radiated from the surface to the atmosphere:
Energy Flux (Power)
To obtain the energy flux between the surface and the carbon dioxide in the air, we apply the following formula:
Q = ECO2 A (σ) (Ts^4 – Ta^4) (Formula 6)
(Formula 6)Q = energy flux (power)
ECO2 = Total emissivity of carbon dioxide (from previous algorithm: ECO2 = 0.0017)
A = Area = 1 m^2
σ = Stefan-Boltzmann constant = 5.6697 x 10-8 W/m^2 K^4
Ts^4 = Temperature in Kelvin of the surface to the fourth power
Ta^4 = Temperature in Kelvin of the air to the fourth power
Known magnitudes:
ECO2 = 0.0015
σ = 5.6697 x 10^-8 W/m^2 K^4
Ts^4 = (330 K)^4 = 11859210000 K^4
Ta^4 = (308 K)^4 = 8999178496 K^4
Introducing magnitudes:
Q = ECO2 A (σ) (Ts^4 – Ta^4) = 0.0017 * 1 m^2 (5.6697 x 10^-8 W/m^2 K^4) (11859210000 K^4 - 8999178496 K^4) = 0.2756 W; rounding up the cipher, Q = 0.28 W
The energy flux occurs every second, hence, the energy flux is 0.28 J/s
The load of energy would be 0.24 J/s * 1 s = 0.28 J.
In our next step, we need to obtain the normal intensity of radiative heat transfer from the carbon dioxide to the surroundings (energy emitted by the carbon dioxide by radiation) at its current concentration in the atmosphere at an air temperature of 308 K.
To obtain the normal intensity (I) of radiative heat transfer, we apply the following formula:
I = ECO2 (σ) (T)^4 / π (Formula 7)
(Formula 7)ECO2 = Total emissivity of carbon dioxide
σ = Stefan-Boltzmann constant = 5.6697 x 10^-8 W/m^2 K^4
T^4 = Temperature in Kelvin to the fourth power
π = pi, or 3.1415…
Known magnitudes:
ECO2 = 0.0017
σ = 5.6697 x 10^-8 W/m^2 K^4
T^4 = (308 K)^4 = 8999178496 K^4.
π = pi, or 3.1415…
Introducing magnitudes:
I = ECO2 (σ) (T)^4 / π
I = [0.0015 (5.6697 x 10^-8 W/m^2 K^4) (8999178496 K^4)] / 3.141592… = 0.765 W/m^2 / 3.1416 = 0.2436 W/m^2 sr; rounding up the cipher, I = 0.244 W/m^2 sr.
Thus, the total normal intensity (I) of the flux of energy emitted by the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is only 0.244 W/m^2 sr. It is not possible for this energy to increase as if by magic. Remember that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but only transformed from one form to another.
The next graph shows the total normal intensity of the radiative heat transfer of carbon dioxide at different partial pressures and their corresponding total emissivities. Notice that the total normal intensity of the radiated energy by the carbon dioxide decreases as its mass fraction in the atmosphere increases.
Let us now proceed to obtain the change of temperature caused by the carbon dioxide at its current concentration in the terrestrial atmosphere.
The change of temperature caused by the CO2 at its current concentration in the atmosphere, with the temperature of the air at 308 K:
To obtain the change of temperature caused by the CO2 in the atmosphere at its current concentration we must apply the following algorithm:
ΔT = Q / m (Cp) (Formula 8)
(Formula 8)ΔT = Change of temperature
Q = Amount of thermal energy in transit from the surface to the air
m = mass of carbon dioxide per cubic meter (taken from its current density which is 0.00069 Kg/m^3)
Cp = Heat Capacity of carbon dioxide
Known values:
Q = 0.28 J (from the formula to obtain the energy flux)
m = 0.00069 Kg
Cp = 871 J/Kg K at 1 atm and 308 K.
Introducing magnitudes:
ΔT = Q / m (Cp)
ΔT = 0.28 J / 0.00069 Kg (871 J/Kg K) = 0.46 K.
1 unit in the Kelvin scale is equivalent to 1 unit in the Celsius scale, so we can express the result as ΔT = 0.46 °C.
By way of contrast, the absolute temperature considered here was 308 K, so the absolute temperature minus the change caused by the carbon dioxide gives a difference of 307.5 K.
So what was the cause of the absolute temperature investigated? Surely, an increase of the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere had nothing whatsoever to do with it.
From Leckner (2) tables, we infer the ECO2 at T = 374 K and pCO2 = 0.03 bar cm is 0.0016. Applying the formula 3, we obtain a total emissivity of the atmospheric carbon dioxide of 0.0017.
The value of Total Emissivity of the carbon dioxide, derived from the experimentation by Leckner, in close proximity to the real physical conditions of the atmosphere, is 0.0016 at 374 K and 1 atm of Pabs, so I used this value as a reference for calculating other parameters and proportionality constants.
The following graph shows the fluctuation of temperature of the air caused by the carbon dioxide at different mass fractions. Notice that by doubling the mass fraction of carbon dioxide the fluctuation of the temperature would decrease by ca. 4 K, e.g. if the temperature of the air is 35 °C, by doubling the mass fraction of carbon dioxide the temperature of the air decreases down to 31 °C. Therefore, the conclusion is that the carbon dioxide operates like a coolant in the atmosphere.
CONCLUSION
Carbon dioxide does not contribute appreciably with the greenhouse effect. The contribution of the carbon dioxide to the current anomaly of temperature at its current concentration in the atmosphere is really insignificant.
The failure of the carbon dioxide for causing a large change of temperature in the atmosphere obeys to its intrinsic physical properties, not to negative feedbacks triggered by other more efficient greenhouse gases in the air than carbon dioxide, i.e. water vapor, methane, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide.
The calculations in this investigation show that the total emissivity of the carbon dioxide decreases as the density of the gas in the atmosphere increases, so we should expect that at higher concentrations in the atmosphere, the carbon dioxide could act as a coolant of the atmosphere and the surface of the Earth as long as the energy emitted by the surface does not increase. If the latter happens, the total emissivity of the carbon dioxide would increase, so its contribution to the greenhouse effect would increase.
The inversely proportional correlation between the total emissivity of the carbon dioxide and its density in the atmosphere may obey to an increase of more available microstates toward which the energy emitted by the surface and other internal systems in the atmosphere is transferred by radiation.
Carbon dioxide emitted by human activity cannot be the cause of climate change as it is incapable physically of causing a significant anomaly of the atmospheric temperature.
Any assertion—involving the physics of radiative heat transfer—that carbon dioxide is a causative agent of climate change, is a deliberate pseudoscientific misrepresentation.
FURTHER READING
1. Hottel, H. C. Radiant Heat Transmission-3rd Edition. 1954. McGraw-Hill, NY.
2. Leckner, B. The Spectral and Total Emissivity of Water Vapor and Carbon Dioxide. Combustion and Flame. Volume 17; Issue 1; August 1971, Pages 37-44.
3. Manrique, José Ángel V. Transferencia de Calor. 2002. Oxford University Press. England.
4. Modest, Michael F. Radiative Heat Transfer-Second Edition. 2003. Elsevier Science, USA and Academic Press, UK.
5. Pitts, Donald and Sissom, Leighton. Heat Transfer. 1998. McGraw-Hill, NY.
6. Chilingar; G. V., Khilyuk, L. F.; Sorokhtin, O. G. Cooling of Atmosphere Due to CO2 Emission. Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects; Volume 30, Issue: 1 January 2008; pages 1 – 9.
March 29, 2011: An error related with the contribution of CO2 in the atmospheric temperature was corrected from 13.5 K to the real value of 0.135 K.
