COSEE Ocean Systems: News
Will Earth's Ocean Boil Away?
Description: Venus has a thick atmosphere that is 96.5 percent carbon dioxide. The planet's water boiled off to space long ago. Could that really happen on Earth? The key to the argument is a well-documented positive feedback loop. As carbon dioxide warms the planet through the greenhouse effect, more water evaporates from the ocean-which amplifies the warming, because water vapor is a greenhouse gas too. That positive feedback is happening now. Some scientist argue fossil-fuel burning could cause the process to run out of control, vaporizing the entire ocean and sterilizing the planet.
URL: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/13/130729-runaway-greenhouse-global-warming-venus-ocean-climate-science/
Availability: Full Text
Source: National Geographic
Publish Date: 7/29/2013
Reading Level: Basic
Page Length:  

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