Question

Lesson 13: Global Warming

There are people who contend that global warming is a theory which is not based on solid empirical evidence. Does thermodynamics as a discipline have anything to say about this environmental (and social, and political) issue?

Answer 1

Yes, thermodynamics can prove that global warming is real. The amount of carbon dioxide is increasing in the atmosphere, which is dumped my factories and industry. The number of trees which can reduce this carbon dioxide is also decreasing. As CO₂ is heat absorbing gas, it can trap the heat emitted by sun. Hence, the net heat absorbed by earth atmosphere increases with increasing amounts of CO₂. As this heat raises the internal energy of the system, given first law of thermodynamics, Heat change = change in internal energy + work done, and internal energy is

E = C_vdT

Hence, there is increase in temperature when E increases due to CO₂ emission. Hence, thermodynamics backs the theory of global warming.