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I Misunderstood the Greenhouse Effect. Here's How It Works.

Sabine Hossenfelder · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Climate science & climate change

What it is

Sabine Hossenfelder explains how the greenhouse effect actually works, given that infrared is mostly absorbed low in the atmosphere already. She walks through why more CO2 still warms the surface.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Recommended as an accessible, nuanced explanation of the mechanics of global warming, including the saturation puzzle.

  • 5 people recommended it
  • 5 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2023, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “I'd recommend watching this video if you'd like to know the more nuanced story behind climate change”

    Nuanced story behind climate change

    smonn_, 2023-04 · Recommendation · in “Methane may not warm the Earth quite as much as previously thought”

  2. “this video explains the mechanics of global warming in a way anybody can understand.”

    Explains global warming mechanics accessibly

    jandrese, 2023-05 · Recommendation · in “The Upper Atmosphere Is Cooling, Prompting New Climate Concerns”

  3. “Here is how the earth 'greenhouse effect' really works”

    How the greenhouse effect really works

    orwin, 2023-05 · Recommendation · in “Emissions are no longer following the worst case scenario”

  4. “here's an explanation of how the greenhouse effect works”

    Explains greenhouse effect beyond infrared trapping

    gcanyon, 2024-02 · Recommendation · in “Xkcd: Greenhouse Effect”

  5. “This Sabine Hossenfelder video helped me understand stratospheric cooling as a climate change outcome.”

    Explains stratospheric cooling as a climate change outcome

    jeffbee, 2025-02 · Recommendation · in “The Upper Atmosphere Is Cooling, Prompting New Climate Concerns”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: climate change, co2, greenhouse gases, atmospheric physics, saturation

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