jkund17
CO2 cannot be responsible for global warming?
Starting last week, I have taken upon the task of clarifying some misconceptions regarding climate change, like global warming not being caused by humans, the relation of sun with global warming etc.
Many people still believe humans are not really responsible for a natural phenomenon like warming of the planet. If you are one of them, please read Misconception 1
Today, let us try to tackle another misconception,
Misconception 2 - CO2 is present in such a small amount in the atmosphere so how can it be such a big threat?
In nature, atmosphere is composed of several gases, carbon di oxide forming only 0.03% of that atmosphere. So yes, really, how can a gas present in such a small quantity in the atmosphere be responsible for causing such a great havoc.
The answer lies in not the quantity of carbon di oxide but its quality. Atmosphere is mostly formed of Nitrogen gas which is about 78% but then Nitrogen does not trap the heat the way carbon di oxide can. Nitrogen is not a greenhouse gas, carbon di oxide is.
Therefore, when the amount of carbon di oxide increases due to combustion of fuels, depletion of forest and trees that use the carbon di oxide, and expulsion of industrial gases, this also increases the heat trapped inside the earth.
Before industrialization carbon dioxide made up about 0.03 per cent of the atmosphere or 280ppm (parts per million). Today, due to human influence it is about 380ppm. Even these tiny quantities have resulted in an increase in global temperatures of 0.75ºC
This also helps in clarifying another misconception people have, how can my reducing emission level help? Well, each fraction of the green house gas send to the atmosphere is responsible for more heat even if it is in small fractions. So when you stop using your vehicle that often, when you start using energy efficient appliances, you are actually saving the planet from getting heated. Every small fraction helps in the long run.
Many people still believe humans are not really responsible for a natural phenomenon like warming of the planet. If you are one of them, please read Misconception 1
Today, let us try to tackle another misconception,
Misconception 2 - CO2 is present in such a small amount in the atmosphere so how can it be such a big threat?
In nature, atmosphere is composed of several gases, carbon di oxide forming only 0.03% of that atmosphere. So yes, really, how can a gas present in such a small quantity in the atmosphere be responsible for causing such a great havoc.
The answer lies in not the quantity of carbon di oxide but its quality. Atmosphere is mostly formed of Nitrogen gas which is about 78% but then Nitrogen does not trap the heat the way carbon di oxide can. Nitrogen is not a greenhouse gas, carbon di oxide is.
Therefore, when the amount of carbon di oxide increases due to combustion of fuels, depletion of forest and trees that use the carbon di oxide, and expulsion of industrial gases, this also increases the heat trapped inside the earth.
Before industrialization carbon dioxide made up about 0.03 per cent of the atmosphere or 280ppm (parts per million). Today, due to human influence it is about 380ppm. Even these tiny quantities have resulted in an increase in global temperatures of 0.75ºC
This also helps in clarifying another misconception people have, how can my reducing emission level help? Well, each fraction of the green house gas send to the atmosphere is responsible for more heat even if it is in small fractions. So when you stop using your vehicle that often, when you start using energy efficient appliances, you are actually saving the planet from getting heated. Every small fraction helps in the long run.
