Water vapor feedback is rapidly warming Europe
9th Nov 2005, 00:54 GMT
A new report indicates that the vast majority of the rapid temperature increase recently observed in Europe is likely due to an unexpected greenhouse gas: water vapor. Elevated surface temperatures due to other greenhouse gases have enhanced water evaporation and contributed to a cycle that stimulates further surface temperature increases. The research could help to answer a long-debated Earth science question about whether the water cycle could strongly enhance greenhouse warming.