The Influence of Changes in the Atmospheric CO2 Concentration on the Earth's Temperature Changes

Currently European Union energetic policy is based on the hypothesis, that increased concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is responsible for the increase of the average temperature on Earth. An anthropogenic emission of CO2 may be the reason of the concentration increase of this gas in the atmosphere. The reduction of CO2 emission may be a way to prevent climate changes. This hypothesis is supported in next reports of IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), international organization cooperating with the UN, which the main task is to explain the causes of climate changes. The influence of changes in the concentration of CO2 and H2O in the atmosphere on temperature changes, based on the Earth and atmosphere simplified energy balance has been studied. In this purpose a mathematical model has been developed, wide bands gases radiation model of Edwards-Balakrishnan has been used. It turns out, that direct impact of CO2 concentration increase is very similar, however H2O has a dominant importance. A wavelength range in which radiation emited by the Earth’s surface is absorbed by CO2 predominantly overlaps with the absorption range of H2O. A water vapour occurs in the air in much higher concentration (1-2 %) than CO2 (about 0,038 %) and H2O has a dominant influence on the greenhouse effect.