The emission of infrared radiation by CO2 molecules is of particular interest to climate scientists. I was wondering if the vector direction of this emission is affected at all by the orientation of the molecule, i.e. is the emission equally likely to be in the direction of the two oxygen atoms or the carbon atom?

I was wondering, since if the CO2 molecule is polar, and the vector direction of this emission is affected by the orientation of the molecule, could we place a strong charge on the ground in a remote area to force the CO2 molecules above to re-emit infrared out into space?

4 minutes ago, Daniel Waxman said:

I was wondering, since if the CO2 molecule is polar,

It isn't.

 

2 minutes ago, John Cuthber said:

It isn't.

 

That's too bad. Can you think of any ways to force the orientation of molecules without an electric dipole?

Even for molecules that have a dipole it's hard to line them up well except by freezing them.
The least bad option is putting less CO2 in the air.

Also, for what it's worth, some of the radiation is emitted at right angles to the axis of the CO2 molecule  (might be all of it; I'd have to think about it.)

I am under the impression that CO2 in the atmosphere acts as a heat shield against heat escaping from the earth, not as a source.

Yes, but the mechanism is absorption of IR radiation ( emitted by the Earth ) by CO2 intermolecular bonds, and re-emission ( some back towards Earth ).

My guess - the re-emission is isotropic.