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Approximately 30 billion (30,000,000,000) tons of CO2 per year. This is over 100 times as much as all earth's volcanoes combined, according to the USGS.
When we burn fossil carbon (coal or oil), the carbon combines with atmospheric oxygen. So 12 tons of coal releases closer to 12+16+16 (CO2) = 44 tons of CO2. This is not exact, as coal is not pure carbon, and not all of it is oxidized, but it illustrates the key concept.
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How have humans contributed to the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the last century?
Humans burned and continue to burn fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) in industry, travel and to generate electricity. This releases extra carbon from millions of years ago.They also destroyed forests all over the world that used to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Does the greenhouse effect increase carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
No. The greenhouse effect keeps the earth warm. Extra carbon dioxide added to it is causing global warming.
Explain how people are adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?
There is a natural cycle in which animals add carbon dioxide to the air and plants remove it, thus maintaining a stable concentration of carbon dioxide over a very long period of time. Humans are part of this natural cycle. Since the start of the Industrial Age, humans have been adding additional carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, increasing the proportion by around 35 per cent, from 260-280 parts per million (ppm) to the present 380 ppm. We do this by burning fossil fuels, manufacturing cement and by deforestation. We can reduce our impact on carbon dioxide concentrations by reducing and eventually eliminating our consumption of coal, oil and natural gas, by finding alternative processes for cement manufacture, including the capture and sequestration of gas produced, and by ceasing deforestation - even allowing some forests to return.
What is the result of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring greenhouse gas. At present concentrations, it helps maintain global temperatures at a level that is comfortable for humans and other animals that have adapted to the present climate. Increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can result in global warming, by trapping more heat. This occurs when humans burn fossil fuels, manufacture cement of destroy forests.
Name one disadvantage of using coal and natural gas to generate electricity?
Burning coal and natural gas releases long held carbon dioxide which is extra to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The carbon cycle can't cope with the extra carbon dioxide and it stays in the atmosphere trapping the sun's heat, causing global warming.
How do animals add carbon to the atmosphere?
Just like humans do they breathe it out. They then remove carbon when they eat. This is part of the natural carbon cycle, and does not add extra CO2 to the atmosphere.
How is climate change a problem for the carbon cycle?
Global warming means there is extra carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is putting an extra strain on the carbon cycle, which is unable to remove all the extra carbon dioxide.
How have humans contributed to the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the last century?
Humans burned and continue to burn fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) in industry, travel and to generate electricity. This releases extra carbon from millions of years ago.They also destroyed forests all over the world that used to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
What human activities release extra carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?
hair spray
How are humans affecting carbon dioxide gas that is in the atmosphere?
We continue to add to it. Humans have been digging up and burning fossil fuels for 250 years. Burning this coal, oil and natural gas for industry, transport and to generate electricity has released billions of tons of extra carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. We have also cut down forests all over the world that used to remove carbon dioxide from the air.
Scientists who are concerned about increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere believe global warming is caused by?
... the burning of fossil fuels, which is adding extra carbon dioxide to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
How is extra carbon getting into the atmosphere?
Extra carbon is getting into the atmosphere because of the actions of humans. These actions would include deforestation, pollution, and the burning of fossil fuels.
What happen when extra carbon dioxide builds up in the atmosphere?
nothing will happen at all
Explain why the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increased?
Humans continued to burn fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) in industry, travel and to generate electricity. This releases extra carbon from millions of years ago.They also cut down forests all over the world that used to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
How does the main kind of organism that brings about decay let carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?
the organism releases carbon dioxide as a waste, as an extra from creating energy it can use.
Does the greenhouse effect increase carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
No. The greenhouse effect keeps the earth warm. Extra carbon dioxide added to it is causing global warming.
Explain how people are adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?
There is a natural cycle in which animals add carbon dioxide to the air and plants remove it, thus maintaining a stable concentration of carbon dioxide over a very long period of time. Humans are part of this natural cycle. Since the start of the Industrial Age, humans have been adding additional carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, increasing the proportion by around 35 per cent, from 260-280 parts per million (ppm) to the present 380 ppm. We do this by burning fossil fuels, manufacturing cement and by deforestation. We can reduce our impact on carbon dioxide concentrations by reducing and eventually eliminating our consumption of coal, oil and natural gas, by finding alternative processes for cement manufacture, including the capture and sequestration of gas produced, and by ceasing deforestation - even allowing some forests to return.
