<p><a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.192075#d2380104e1" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Levendis et al</a> designed a simple experiment with balloons filled with air or air and CO2. They measured how long it took to cool a heated element in the two environments. It's by no means a perfect analogy, but given the well understood physics of CO2 it's hardly necessary to experiment at this scale.  Many school science resource sites will give instructions for simple 'bottle' experiments that demonstrate the IR absorption of CO2 on the lab bench.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-14T21:24:08.840Z
This just demonstrates CO2 is a poorer conductor than regular air though doesn't it? Not related to the greenhouse effect per se which has to do with IR radiation (in other words Argon would have the same effect in the balloon)
Dale Cloudman
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-10-18T14:30:44.997Z
2022-10-18T14:30:44.997Z
Andy M
<p>Is there any simple experiment which can be done to show empirical evidence that carbon dioxide causes the greenhouse effect?</p>
<p>I'm imagining something simple like two sealed fish tanks, one filled with air that we breath every day, and the other filled with the same air but with a 50% higher concentration of carbon dioxide. Shine a light into them both and measure the temperature.</p>
<p>I think this would convert a lot of &quot;deniers&quot;.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-10-18T14:30:34.780Z
It would improve this question if there was evidence of cursory preliminary research as multiple easily accessed resources describe this type of experiment
Andy M
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-10-18T19:05:07.910Z
@AndyM I think this is an important question despite how it's worded. If such information is readily accessible, it should be easy to provide answers here. Such an answer could be valuable to future readers. The greenhouse effect is non-intuitive (how could a gas which makes up less than 0.001% of our atmosphere be a problem?) so the ability to demonstrate this at home (if possible) could help bridge that gap.
LShaver
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-10-20T00:44:11.660Z
At this point, explaining simply physics to "deniers" is not really the issue.  "Deniers" don't care what science can show them.  If the greenhouse effect is difficult to perceive, try building a greenhouse.
f.thorpe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-10-31T08:04:51.490Z
Possible duplicate: https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/q/7502/18081
Jean-Marie Prival
<climate-change><atmosphere>
How to demonstrate the warming effect of CO2 at home?
possessed3
# How to demonstrate the warming effect of CO2 at home?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-10-18)

Is there any simple experiment which can be done to show empirical evidence that carbon dioxide causes the greenhouse effect?

I'm imagining something simple like two sealed fish tanks, one filled with air that we breath every day, and the other filled with the same air but with a 50% higher concentration of carbon dioxide. Shine a light into them both and measure the temperature.

I think this would convert a lot of "deniers".

**Tags:** climate-change, atmosphere

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It would improve this question if there was evidence of cursory preliminary research as multiple easily accessed resources describe this type of experiment  
> **username_2**: @username_1 I think this is an important question despite how it's worded. If such information is readily accessible, it should be easy to provide answers here. Such an answer could be valuable to future readers. The greenhouse effect is non-intuitive (how could a gas which makes up less than 0.001% of our atmosphere be a problem?) so the ability to demonstrate this at home (if possible) could help bridge that gap.  
> **username_3**: At this point, explaining simply physics to "deniers" is not really the issue.  "Deniers" don't care what science can show them.  If the greenhouse effect is difficult to perceive, try building a greenhouse.  
> **username_4**: Possible duplicate: https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/q/7502/18081  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-10-18. Score: 3

[Levendis et al](https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.192075#d2380104e1) designed a simple experiment with balloons filled with air or air and CO2. They measured how long it took to cool a heated element in the two environments. It's by no means a perfect analogy, but given the well understood physics of CO2 it's hardly necessary to experiment at this scale. Many school science resource sites will give instructions for simple 'bottle' experiments that demonstrate the IR absorption of CO2 on the lab bench.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: This just demonstrates CO2 is a poorer conductor than regular air though doesn't it? Not related to the greenhouse effect per se which has to do with IR radiation (in other words Argon would have the same effect in the balloon)  

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