File: Psychrometric chart and Humidair program Dec 14 2023.docx
Why our study uses the psychrometric model of the Earth’s atmosphere Douglas Lightfoot and Gerald Ratzer December 14, 2023 1. Using the psychrometric model The psychrometric mathematical model of the Earth's atmosphere accurately separates the warming effects of carbon dioxide (CO 2) and water vapor. The methodology uses empirical data to show that the warming effects of CO2 and water vapor are significantly different. Both carbon dioxide and water vapor warm the Earth's atmosphere. They do so in different amounts and by other relationships to their concentration, i.e., the number of molecules per cubic meter. Empirical data collected in sets of 20 within the same hour at random times for twelve months is input to obtain a data set of 240 values to determine accurate relationships. For example, Figure 1 shows the relationship between dry air's enthalpy and temperature. CO2 is part of the dry air that includes all of the gases in the atmosphere except water vapor, i.e., nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium, methane, krypton, and trace species. The enthalpy for all these gases is linear with temperature, as in Figure 1 from a data set of 240 points.
Figure 1. Enthalpy of CO2 versus temperature 1 ©Lightfoot and Ratzer 2023
File: Psychrometric chart and Humidair program Dec 14 2023.docx In contrast, the relationship with temperature for water vapor is a quadratic curve, as in Figure 2 from 400 points. The enthalpy increases as temperature increases to an upper limit where the curve reaches an asymptote at close to 30oC.
Figure 2.Temperature versus enthalpy for water vapor These results conflict with the current concept used by the IPCC and others that the warming effects of water vapor and CO2 can be separated using their radiation profiles. However, overlapping radiation profiles cannot provide an accurate separation. For the overlap, see Figure 1 from our paper below. Especially note the overlap in the mid-range between wavelengths 10 and 20.
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File: Psychrometric chart and Humidair program Dec 14 2023.docx
. If the gas determined by the radiation method is linear with temperature, it is CO2. If the temperature versus concentration is curved, then the gas is undoubtedly all, or mostly, water vapor. 2. The psychrometric mathematical model of the Earth’s atmosphere Many scientists find it difficult to accept the preceding information because they are unfamiliar with the psychrometric mathematical model of the Earth’s atmosphere. The following section provides the history of the psychrometric model. Willis Carrier invented the psychrometric chart in 1904. The basis was science generated by many skilled people over the previous centuries. Table 2 below briefly lists some of the people who developed the science.
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File: Psychrometric chart and Humidair program Dec 14 2023.docx
Table 1 shows the properties of the atmosphere that are measurable and those that are calculable. Our study uses the readily available dry bulb temperature, relative humidity, and barometric pressure caused by elevation at the weather station location. Willis Carrier invented the psychrometric chart because he needed an easier way to apply science to design heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. The chart, now available as a computer program, Humidair, has proven accurate and reliable by practical experience for almost 120 years. The temperature range is from -100oC to 99oC. Thus, it covers all of the ice and water vapor conditions that occur on earth. The psychrometric model is a validated model in contrast to the current climate models that are not validated. If warming by CO2 were significant, the people developing the science would find it. We know they did not find it because its warming effect is too small to measure. For more information about the psychrometric model, see: Gately P. Psychrometric chart celebrates 100th Anniversary: by P. Gatley, P.E., Fellow/Life Member ASHRAE. Available at: 4 ©Lightfoot and Ratzer 2023
File: Psychrometric chart and Humidair program Dec 14 2023.docx http://www.handsdownsoftware.com/Psychrometrics-100th-Bday.pdf We hope this document achieves our objective of making the psychrometric model more well-known. Comments are welcome. H. Douglas Lightfoot December 14, 2023 dlightfo@aei.ca
5 ©Lightfoot and Ratzer 2023