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Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere
Carbon dioxide is a waste product of burning fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide is also a greenhouse gas that helps trap heat from the sun's rays in the earth's atmosphere. The sun's rays enter the atmosphere, hit the earth, where some of the energy is absorbed and some is reflected back into space. The more greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere, the more interference reradiating rays encounter, and they get trapped, which heats the atmosphere and contributes to an overall warming of the planet.
The most abundant greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2) - the gas that provides the fizz in carbonated beverages. These gases are emitted by both natural and artificial systems. Worldwide consumption of fossil fuels, such as oil, coal, and natural gas, that provide the energy that we depend on releases huge quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the early 1800s the CO2 concentration has risen by around 40%. Many scientists believe that the more that CO2 builds up in the atmosphere, the more the earth may be warmed over time with substantial changes in climate.
The earth's atmosphere is an environment that needs protecting, just like wetlands, groundwater sources, and forests. Finding ways to decrease the amount of greenhouse gases we add to the atmosphere is an important environmental goal. One way to decrease the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is to plant trees. Another way to prevent adding more CO2 into the atmosphere is to store the gas in the earth using a process called carbon sequestration.
- Carbon Dioxide Wikipedia
- Carbon Sequestration FAQ Information Portal - National Energy Technology Laboratory
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