Why is there more carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere?

Answer 1

Cause people are stupid and drive cars more. In the last 100 years cars have become everyday objects and there are millions all over the world creating carbon dioxide This is not the only reason as there are more factories and other modes of transport all creationg CO2

Answer 2

Carbon dioxide levels have risen in the last 200 years, approximately since the beginning of industrialization, because humans have started to burn fossil fuels (primarily oil, natural gas and coal) in ever increasing quantities without removing any CO2 as nature does.

Another more recent reason is massive deforestation. Forests are an important part in what is known as the 'Carbon Cycle'.

The earth releases about 97% of atmospheric CO2 through natural processes while the remaining 3 percent is 'man-made'. But in the 'Carbon Cycle', earth also re-captures large quantities of the natural CO2 it releases thereby creating a balance of the total CO2 in the atmosphere. This way, earth has been able to maintain some sort of natural balance during millions of years.

Oceans and vegetation are important natural 'Carbon Sinks' which re-capture CO2 out of the atmosphere. Trees and plants for example trap CO2 out of the air which they use for their photosynthesis processes. When they are cut or burned during deforestation or eventually die, the CO2 they held are released back into the atmosphere. This further unbalances the Carbon Cycle twofold as it adds CO2 again and it further decreases the earth's natural filtering ability.

Oceans are experiencing problems too due to the increased levels of CO2 they capture and store as more CO2 leads to a higher level of acidity. Higher levels of acidity has negative effects on the oceans' sea-life which ultimately can have negative effects on the human food production chain.

A:While deforestation is certainly not good for the environment, nor is polluting or consuming billions of tons of fossil fuel, the deforestation issue is really not a substantial portion of the increases we may be seeing in terms of CO2 for two very important reasons.

1. The issue of long term increases is debatable. The average science expert of 1850 that worked with our atmosphere found CO2 levels at about the same levels as we see today (or slightly higher). To obtain the claimed increase, the historical data comes from glacial sample and is compared to more urban locations (urban compared to Antarctica). A comparison of Antarctica to Antarctica shows no increase. A comparison to science measurements to science measurements also shows no increase. There has, however, been a short term increase in CO2 (since 1979). (Georg Ernst Beck 2007)

2. Most of the absorption of CO2 from our atmosphere is performed through the Northern Ocean. The warming of this ocean prevents the ocean from absorbing as much CO2 as when it is cooler. This is the main cause of all increases in CO2 (man induced or other). (Wolgang Knorr 2009)

This is not saying that pollution is not bad, or that man should not be striving for better alternatives then fossil fuels. It does show that the science still has a long way to go.

Answer 3

There is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today than there has been for thousands of years. It is there because we burn fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), and we have cut down all the forests of the world.

Answer 4

The largest carbon dioxide sink is the ocean. The ocean is becoming less able to hold carbon dioxide, largely because it is getting warmer. Therefore, less carbon dioxide is leaving the atmosphere and entering the ocean.

Answer 5

One hundred years ago, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere were around 290 ppm (parts per million). They are now (2013) more than 400 ppm. This is caused by our burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas).

Answer 6

The most widely accepted reason for increases carbon dioxide levels is that humans are burning fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide and are destroying forests which would otherwise absorb it.

Answer 7

there is little carbon dioxide in the air because carbon dioxide comes with other gases such as argon etc. but oxygen does not come in this category so there is more oxygen in the air than carbon dioxide

Answer 8

There is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere now because we have been burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) for more than 200 years. This burning adds long-hidden carbon dioxide, so it is too much for the carbon cycle to completely recycle.

Answer 9

The atmosphere is forever changing balance as new oxygen is being created every second of time. It is impossible to get an exact reading.

Answer 10

On the contrary, carbon dioxide levels have been rising on the earth. Levels are around 393 ppm (2012), up 40% from the 280 ppm of the 1800s.