Summary of GHG, GHE, etc.
In summary, there is no “Greenhouse Effect” in the atmosphere, specifically because it is an open environment; thus there are no “Greenhouse Gases”; there is no further warming of the Earth’s surface by “back-radiation”, and heat is not “trapped” in the atmosphere due to IR-Active Gases. The insulating effect of the atmosphere is quite different.
However, it is still true that the Earth’s surface is warmer with an atmosphere than it would be without an atmosphere. But it is extremely critical to understand that the Sun is the only significant source of heat for the Earth. (For the above discussion, the very small amount of geo-thermal heat being contributed by the interior of the Earth, and absorbed heat as a result of the surface being warmed, have been excluded.)
The atmosphere has no energy source, and can only act passively as insulation, like the blankets (excluding electric blankets) on one’s bed. It cannot be considered to be actively warming the Earth. “Back-radiation” cannot increase surface temperature above that resulting from incident sunlight.
The temperature of the Earth’s surface is determined by the relative balance of energy incident from the Sun and the loss of energy ultimately to outer space. The vocabulary utilized by AGW alarmist websites is misused, which introduces confusion in understanding the reality.
We should revisit occasionally what the proper role of government is. As the constitution was a good sense of direction, we need a core set of principles to add in order to deal with the future.
So many want to engineer society, remove risk, assist certain groups, rather than let individuals thrive and raise communities. Why?
Is Democracy where we all "get it good and hard" or is it the best means to a free society?
Should we roll with the special interests, or make the government achieve its proper role, what is that role, and how to do this?
When do deficits and governments become too large?
Government is becoming more elitist while trying to sell corrections to problems it created, what makes this possible?
