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CO2 Infrared Absorption
Carbon dioxide (O=C=O) is a greenhouse gas, that absorbs at several wavelengths in the near infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Starting with the linear molecule (top), asymmetric stretching (below top image) at 2349 cm-1 and bending (second from bottom) at 667 cm-1 (this data source Wikipedia). The bending is a degenerate pair mode (direction of vibration orthogonal to each other) and the stretching mode the more intense peak in the spectrum. There is also symmetric stretching (bottom; at 1388 cm−1), but is not detected in the IR spectrum.
The atmospheric infrared absorption causes these molecular vibrations and the molecule re-emits infrared heat in all directions, including downwards to Earth, causing extra warming (in addition to the Sun's radiation). Therefore, CO2 (and other greenhouse gases, e.g. methane from Arctic tundra) acts like a heat blanket. The dense atmosphere of Venus is mostly CO2, so the greenhouse effect is even more extreme, making the surface temperature even more uninhabitable.
It is now scientifically proven that the main cause of excess CO2, causing global warming (and climate change), is human activity: predominantly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. In addition, the excess CO2 is causing a slight decrease in seawater pH (by forming more dissolved carbonic acid), with the combined effect of increasing sea temperatures, affecting some marine life and ecosystems (e.g. coral reefs).
CO2 Infrared Absorption
Carbon dioxide (O=C=O) is a greenhouse gas, that absorbs at several wavelengths in the near infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Starting with the linear molecule (top), asymmetric stretching (below top image) at 2349 cm-1 and bending (second from bottom) at 667 cm-1 (this data source Wikipedia). The bending is a degenerate pair mode (direction of vibration orthogonal to each other) and the stretching mode the more intense peak in the spectrum. There is also symmetric stretching (bottom; at 1388 cm−1), but is not detected in the IR spectrum.
The atmospheric infrared absorption causes these molecular vibrations and the molecule re-emits infrared heat in all directions, including downwards to Earth, causing extra warming (in addition to the Sun's radiation). Therefore, CO2 (and other greenhouse gases, e.g. methane from Arctic tundra) acts like a heat blanket. The dense atmosphere of Venus is mostly CO2, so the greenhouse effect is even more extreme, making the surface temperature even more uninhabitable.
It is now scientifically proven that the main cause of excess CO2, causing global warming (and climate change), is human activity: predominantly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. In addition, the excess CO2 is causing a slight decrease in seawater pH (by forming more dissolved carbonic acid), with the combined effect of increasing sea temperatures, affecting some marine life and ecosystems (e.g. coral reefs).