Is sulfur dioxide a greenhouse gas?

Question

Is sulfur dioxide a greenhouse gas?

Answer 1

Sulfur dioxide causes a very temporary cooling effect.

Here's what the leading researcher specializing in that says:

Here's more on Dr. Schwartz's expert opinion:

http://www.ecd.bnl.gov/news/NorthShoreSu...

"I'm very concerned about the world my grandchildren will live in," said Mr. Schwartz, who is currently studying climate change. "There could be an increase of four to eight degrees in the next century, and that's huge. The last time there was a five-degree Celsius decrease was the last ice age. An increase of eight degrees Fahrenheit would bring change unprecedented in the last half-million years."

Answer 2

No, sulfur dioxide is an aerosol that raises the Earth's albedo. It can cause a temporary cooling effect.

Like mentioned above, GHGs absorb and emit IR radiation.

Answer 3

It is pretty bad as long as it is gassy. It tends to fall out pretty quick. In the oil field they burn H2S which is deadly. That after Burning is SO2 and falls very soon.

Answer 4

No. Greenhouse gases reduce the loss of heat into space.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_...

However studies have shown that reducing sulfur dioxide can lead to warming due the reduced cooling effect sulfur dioxide has.

http://healthandenergy.com/sulfur_dioxid...

But that wouldn't the same thing as it BEING a greenhouse gas.

Answer 5

Yes, but it can't cause global warming on Earth.

That's because, in our atmosphere, it's rapidly oxidized, and falls out as small particles called "sulfates".  The total effect is actually to cause a small cooling.  It was important in keeping temperatures constant from 1950-1970 or so, because we emitted a lot of it then.