Climate Change

How rising water vapour in the atmosphere fuels climate change

In many ways, water vapour is the most important greenhouse gas as it makes Earth habitable.

Water vapour ... as the climate warms, higher moisture levels increase the risk of flooding. Image: Pexels/Pixabay

Kevin Trenberth
Distinguished Scholar, NCAR; Affiliate Faculty, University of Auckland
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Water vapour plays a significant role in Earth’s natural greenhouse effect, and it amplifies current, human-induced warming.
Water vapour plays a significant role in Earth’s natural greenhouse effect. Image: Adapted from Trenberth (2022), CC BY-SA

The water vapour feedback: increased heating promotes increased evaporation and higher atmospheric temperatures, which in turn lead to higher levels of atmospheric water vapour.
Increased heating promotes increased evaporation and higher atmospheric temperatures. Image: Author provided, CC BY-SA

Water vapour is part of Earth’s hydrological cycle,
Water vapour is part of Earth’s hydrological cycle. Image: Author provided, CC BY-SA
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Related topics:
Climate ChangeClimate and NatureSDG 13: Climate Action
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