Thermodynamic explanation of climate and CO2 - DL

To: Ferdinand Engelbeen Industrial Chemist Belgium From: H. Douglas Lightfoot Mechanical Engineer Canada December 18, 2022

Subject: Thermodynamic explanation of the most important parameters of Earth’s climate and the very minor role of carbon dioxide Reference publication for this discussion: The Sun Versus CO2 as the Cause of Climate Change Projected to 2050

Comment by H. Douglas Lightfoot Mechanical Engineer Montreal, Canada Some of the information in this message is the same as in my previous message. On reflection, I could have done a better job.

I will bring out two points from our paper that do not appear to be well understood.

The first is the temperature recorded by AccuWeather includes all the local physical effects from latitude, elevation, Sun angle, Sun's variability, proximity to oceans and lakes, clouds, any recent volcanic action, as well as the interaction of the 99% non-GHG gases N2, O2, and Ar, as well as the main GHGs of water vapor and CO 2.

All 240 temperatures in Figure 3 include all the factors named above. It is impossible to isolate the warming caused by CO2 absorbing IR.

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Figure 3 shows the grams of water vapor per kg of dry air on the bottom axis. Observing this led me to wonder about the number of grams of CO 2 per kg of dry air.

The second is that the measurements by Keeling appear to be the only way to separate the warming effect of CO2 from all other effects that influence the Earth’s temperature.

In February 2022, Mauna Loa reported 418 ppm of CO2. That is 418 molecules of CO2 per million molecules of dry air. CO2 is measured by this method because it eliminates the effect of dilution by water vapor and by temperature. The mole fraction is 0.000418.

This number converts to 0.0000184 kilograms of CO2 per kilogram of dry air.

Now we know the weight of CO2 per kg of dry air.

Because of dilution by water vapor and temperature, there are fewer CO 2 molecules in Mogadishu on the Equator than in McMurdo in Antarctica by the ratio (323/418) in the revised Table 2 below. The data in Table 2 is determined by psychrometric data that considers dilution by water vapor, temperature, and elevation.

The difference in energy content of the atmosphere between McMurdo and Mogadishu is: (weight of CO2 x Specific heat x ΔT). The weight of CO2 at Mogadishu is 0.00001421 kg/kg of dry air.

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The difference in heat content is (0.0000142KJ/kg x 0.833KJ/kgK x 69K) = 0.000816 kilo Joules (kJ) (See the Supplementary Information at: https://setpublisher.com/pms/index.php/jbas/article/view/2425) The specific heat of 0.833kJ/KgK is for Earth’s temperature of 15 oC. Psychrometric data is the thermodynamic properties of moist air—a description of the atmosphere. The Humidair psychrometric program works well and offers a broader range of properties than a chart.

This number 0.000816 kJ converts to oC by dividing by (117.5/69) = 1.703, i.e., 0.000816/1.703 = 0.000509oC. That temperature is a tiny number indicating that CO2 has no effect on the Earth’s temperature.

We can go further and estimate the warming effect of CO2 from doubling of CO2 to 800 molecules per million molecules of dry air. The increase in temperature at Mogadishu would be 0.0009174oC above that at McMurdo. In contrast, the IPCC in AR6 claims to double CO2 increases Earth’s temperature by 2.5 to 4oC. The two points presented are not well understood. Yet, they are essential to understanding how little CO2 warms the atmosphere.

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Comment by H. Douglas Lightfoot Mechanical Engineer Montreal, Canada We used psychrometric data to show the Sun controls Earth's temperature daily by water vapor up to the blue dew point line and by natural radiation above it.

Psychrometric data is the thermodynamic properties of air containing water vapor, i.e., humid (moist) air. You can see these properties at the MegaWatSoft website: https://www.megawatsoft.com/psychrometrics.aspx Physical measurements of the properties of air containing water vapor are the basis for psychrometric data. The data does not include CO2 because its warming effect on the atmosphere is too small to measure, as our paper shows. It appears people have never been able to measure it and include it.

Psychrometric data was developed before 1904 when W. H. Carrier made it easier to use by constructing a chart. The data has been made more accurate over time. It is proven technology. Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) engineers use it daily to design ventilation systems for people's spaces successfully.

The Supplementary Information has all the calculations by the Humidair psychrometric program for our paper. It is available at: https://setpublisher.com/pms/index.php/jbas/article/view/2425 We have confidence in the psychrometric data and the accuracy of the mole fractions of CO2 measured by Keeling. .

You have an excellent article about CO2 at: http://www.ferdinand-engelbeen.be/klimaat/co2_measurements.html It has been helpful to respond to your message. We are now better able to defend our paper.

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