The levels have risen from 0.028% to the present (2013) 0.04%. This increase has occurred because humans discovered fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) and started burning them. They also committed deforestation!
See the simple graphs at the link below.
Over the last 150 years, carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations have risen from 280 to nearly 380 parts per million (ppm).
burning fossil fuels
We can measure the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Because carbon dioxide mixes well the measurement is about the same all over the world. Recently we have just reached 400 ppm (parts per million) or 0.04%.
This means an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. There is a normal balance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Trees and green plants soak it up, and then when the trees rot or are burnt the carbon dioxide goes back into the atmosphere. However, more than 200 years ago we began seriously burning coal and oil. This released carbon dioxide that had been trapped millions of years ago. So over the years the amount of this gas in the atmosphere has been increasing. Most climate scientists agree that this increase in carbon dioxide is contributing to climate change and global warming.
Over-logging of trees means that they can no longer remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This has actually happened and levels of carbon dioxide are building up 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.
Over the last 150 years, carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations have risen from 280 to nearly 380 parts per million (ppm).
By 38 percent
There is no known way that humans can economically remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; all we can really do is reduce our emissions of carbon dioxide and slow down the rate at which atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are increasing. The surface waters of the ocean do absorb some carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as atmospheric carbon dioxide level increase, but there is little interchange betwen the warm upper ocean and the deep layers. However over a period of several thousand years, there is sufficient interchange to absorb large volumes of carbon dioxide, allowing the atmospheric concentration to return more or less to normal. Afforestation. Planting trees will remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
How something reacts to Carbon Dioxide will depend on the amount of energy available, and the temperature of the Carbon Dioxide. Carbon Dioxide fluctuates more when it is over a coniferous forest stand.
The water that the fish swims in passes over the gills - these work like our own lungs - taking in oxygen, and expelling carbon dioxide. This is why you need to change the water in the tank on a regular basis - because the level of carbon dioxide increases daily.
burning fossil fuels
Burning fossil fuels.
We can measure the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Because carbon dioxide mixes well the measurement is about the same all over the world. Recently we have just reached 400 ppm (parts per million) or 0.04%.
Less trees, more people, more pollution.
This means an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. There is a normal balance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Trees and green plants soak it up, and then when the trees rot or are burnt the carbon dioxide goes back into the atmosphere. However, more than 200 years ago we began seriously burning coal and oil. This released carbon dioxide that had been trapped millions of years ago. So over the years the amount of this gas in the atmosphere has been increasing. Most climate scientists agree that this increase in carbon dioxide is contributing to climate change and global warming.
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.