CO2 traps heat by absorbing and re-emitting infrared energy.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
- When sunlight reaches the Earth, some of it is absorbed, warming the planet.
- The Earth then radiates some of this heat back into space as infrared radiation.
- As CO2 soaks up this infrared energy, it vibrates and re-emits the infrared energy back in all directions.
- About half of that re-emitted energy goes out into space, and about half returns to Earth as heat, contributing to the 'greenhouse effect'. This warms the Earth's surface.
In essence, CO2 acts like a blanket, trapping some of the outgoing heat and preventing it from escaping into space. This process is crucial for maintaining a habitable temperature on Earth, but increased CO2 concentrations are leading to enhanced heat trapping and global warming.
