absorption time of infrared radiation by a CO₂ molecule is extremely short

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Yes, the absorption time of infrared radiation by a CO₂ molecule is extremely short (around 10⁻⁶–10⁻⁴ seconds).

But this does not mean the effect disappears. What happens next is crucial.

After absorbing infrared radiation, the CO₂ molecule can:

1. Transfer the energy to nearby air molecules (N₂, O₂) through collisions, which converts the radiation energy into heat in the atmosphere.

2. Re-emit infrared radiation in a random direction, including back toward the Earth's surface.

Both processes are fundamental to the Greenhouse effect.

The fact that the process takes only microseconds is normal in molecular physics and is described by Infrared absorption in Atmospheric Physics.

What matters is not how long one molecule holds the energy, but that trillions of CO₂ molecules are constantly absorbing and re-emitting infrared radiation, which slows the escape of heat from the atmosphere.

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