Actually, most of the downwelling LWIR which reaches the surface originates in the lower troposphere, very near the surface. (But, of course, it's warmed, in part, from above.)
Whether radiation is absorbed or not by the atmosphere depends heavily on wavelength. The atmosphere is nearly transparent to some wavelengths, but almost completely opaque to others.
@ciais_philippe 2/7❯ The benefits of rising CO2 levels for agriculture are spectacular. CO2 is not the only reason for improving crop yields, but it is one of the major reasons:
@ciais_philippe 3/7❯ The best scientific evidence shows that CO2 emissions are beneficial, and manmade climate change is modest and benign. Here are some relevant studies: sealevel.info/negative_socia…
@AkademiskC 2/7》Here's the Most Trusted Man in America™ (Walter Cronkite) reporting on the threat of Global Cooling, 9/11/1972:
Prof. Hubert Lamb (the source who Cronkite cited) was founding director of the UEA Climate Research Unit.
@AkademiskC 3/7》Here's a 1974 CIA report about the looming threat of a return to the neo-boreal conditions of the Little Ice Age (global cooling). It summarized the scientific consensus:
2/17. That DeSmogBlog article about Will Happer is a brazen, despicable smear.
DeSmogBlog claimed that "Peabody Energy paid [Happer] $8,000 which was routed through the CO2 Coalition."
That's a LIE. Prof. Happer was not paid, because he asked that his entire fee be donated to charity.
3/17. DeSmog also falsely claimed, "Happer told Greenpeace reporters that he would be willing to produce research promoting the benefits of carbon dioxide for $250 per hour, while the funding sources could be similarly concealed by routing them through the CO2 Coalition."
That's ANOTHER LIE.
Happer did no such thing. Rather, he was asked to produce a white paper (which is not "research") explaining the best scientific evidence about the costs and benefits of fossil fuel use—and he generously asked that the fee for that work be donated to charity.
The CO2 Coalition @CO2Coalition is a 501(c)(3) educational charity. Happer didn't "route" anything "through" them. He very generously donated the fees to which he was entitled, to that very worthy charity.