Humans 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. More and more people all over the world are demanding electrical goods and the chance to buy a car.
They also cut down forests all over the world that used to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Because we began burning coal at the start of the Industrial Revolution.
The trend, unfortunately, is rising. Two hundred years ago carbon dioxide levels were around 280 ppm (parts per million) and had been that way for thousands of years. Now (2014) levels have reached 400 ppm or 0.04%. They have been rising every year since global warming began.
The internal combustion engine powers vehicles by burning gasolinegasoline comes from fossil fuel, so this burning emits carbon dioxide (CO2)carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that absorbs heat rising from the warmed earthAs this carbon dioxide has been hidden underground for 300 million years, releasing it now ADDS to the CO2 levels in the atmosphere causing global warming.
The increase in carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere over the last 150 years was due to mankind's burning of fossil fuels.
As the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide increases above its long-term average level, the surface water of the oceans begins to absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby partly countering the addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. This is demonstrated by the rising acidity of sea water, since dissolved carbon dioxide becomes carbonic acid. However, there is very little interchange of water between the warm surface layer and the deep ocean, so very little of this carbon dioxide is dispersed into deeper water. Scientists say that the anthropogenic increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide level could be absorbed by the ocean, but only over a period of several thousand years.
Because we began burning coal at the start of the Industrial Revolution.
The trend, unfortunately, is rising. Two hundred years ago carbon dioxide levels were around 280 ppm (parts per million) and had been that way for thousands of years. Now (2014) levels have reached 400 ppm or 0.04%. They have been rising every year since global warming began.
Carbon Dioxide
In the past 50 to 100 years, man has burned about one halve of all the oil which formed through the ages, plus large amounts of coal, lumber, and natural gas. This is the source of the carbon dioxide. It would be worse except the oceans absorbed some of the carbon dioxide increase.
None. Plants recycle carbon dioxide continuously.
Carbon dioxide levels have not fallen. They have been gradually increasing for the past 250 years when man began burning fossil fuels and cutting down trees. Since 1980 CO2 levels have increased more rapidly than ever before.
Oxygen is the element that transformed Carbon Dioxide atmosphere a billion years ago to what you breathe.
i
The internal combustion engine powers vehicles by burning gasolinegasoline comes from fossil fuel, so this burning emits carbon dioxide (CO2)carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that absorbs heat rising from the warmed earthAs this carbon dioxide has been hidden underground for 300 million years, releasing it now ADDS to the CO2 levels in the atmosphere causing global warming.
The increase in carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere over the last 150 years was due to mankind's burning of fossil fuels.
Yes, the carbon cycle is responsible for moving carbon in and out of the atmosphere. It normally works carefully so there is always the right balance, because carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a greenhouse that helps to keep the earth comfortably warm. Burning fossil fuels releases age-old carbon that has been hidden away for millions of years. Releasing it now imposes an extra burden on the carbon cycle which is unable to keep it balanced. This is why carbon dioxide levels and rising and the atmosphere is warming.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a powerful greenhouse gas which traps heat rising from the surface of the earth. When we add extra CO2 (burning fossil fuel releases CO2 that has been hidden away for millions of years) we are causing global warming and climate change which has the potential for destroying the environment for humans and animals.