Al Gore likes to say that mankind puts 70 million tons of…
“Al Gore likes to say that mankind puts 70 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every day. What he probably doesn't know is that mother nature puts 24,000 times that amount of our main greenhouse gas-water vapor-into the atmosphere every day and removes about the same amount every day. While this does not 'prove' that global warming is not man-made, it shows that weather systems have by far the greatest control over the Earth's greenhouse effect, which is dominated by water vapor and clouds.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Water vapor and clouds dominate Earth's greenhouse effect, dwarfing human CO₂ emissions.
In simple terms: Water vapor is the main greenhouse gas, not CO₂.
Key Takeaway
Consider natural climate drivers alongside human impact.
Themes
climate science
greenhouse gases
natural cycles
Mood
informative
balanced
Type
educational
analytical
When to use this quote
- Weather forecasting
- climate modeling
- policy debates
- education curricula
Key Concepts
Atmospheric physics
hydrological cycle
climate feedbacks
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance natural and anthropogenic factors in climate policy?
- What role do clouds play in climate models?
A Different Perspective
Human emissions still alter atmospheric composition and amplify effects.