The Climate Life on planet Earth is dependent upon the atmospheric greenhouse effect to maintain a breathable atmosphere and a climate zone that is conducive to life. Ironically, it is this very greenhouse effect that has many scientists concerned. Therefore, interest in climate studies has been increasing.
Water vapor is a greenhouse gas that can lead to global warming.
It is both a symptom and a cause of the greenhouse effect. Water vapor continually cycles through evaporation and condensation, transporting heat energy around the Earth and between the surface and the atmosphere. Water vapor in the atmosphere allows the short wavelength radiation of the sun to pass through the atmosphere, but traps the long wavelength radiation emitted by the Earth's surface. This trapped radiation causes the temperatures to increase. As the temperatures increase, the air can sustain a larger amount of water vapor, thereby increasing the greenhouse effect.