Debunking the 'Heat Only Rises' Claim
AAP FactCheck examines the claim that atmospheric carbon dioxide cannot warm the Earth's surface because "heat only goes up".
Experts assert that heat is transferred in all directions, including downwards, via radiation, which is how carbon dioxide (CO2) warms the planet.
Warm air rises, but this does not mean that atmospheric carbon dioxide can't warm the earth's surface.
- CO2 transfers heat in all directions through radiation.
- This process can be observed using scientific instruments.
A Facebook post claims CO2 cannot be responsible for warming at ground level, stating "Having reached the air, CO2 no longer has any possible heating effect" and "any warming from CO2 would therefore only occur in the sky".
Author's summary: Climate science defies the "heat only rises" claim.