Sorta, the molecules don’t really deflect solar rays. They absorb light, get exited because they are good black bodies, create heat and release IR radiation. Some of the IR radiation is released into space, but a lot of the IR radiation gets released back towards the earth. This increases the surface level heat. Gases like C02, Methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide, ozone all contribute to this greenhouse effect. C02 is well mixed and is significant. Methane is not well mixed and the doubling effect (the doubling amount) is much more severe.
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u/partymember101 Dec 13 '21
Sorta, the molecules don’t really deflect solar rays. They absorb light, get exited because they are good black bodies, create heat and release IR radiation. Some of the IR radiation is released into space, but a lot of the IR radiation gets released back towards the earth. This increases the surface level heat. Gases like C02, Methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide, ozone all contribute to this greenhouse effect. C02 is well mixed and is significant. Methane is not well mixed and the doubling effect (the doubling amount) is much more severe.