Question

From 1960 to 2010, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere increased from 320 to 390 ppm. If the rate of CO2 growth after 2010 was 1.9 ppm per year, what would be the concentration of CO2 for the year 2100?

a) 266 ppm
b) 586 ppm
c) 171 ppm
d) 561 ppm

Answer 1

The CO2 concentration for the year 2100 is calculated by taking the rate of increase (1.9 ppm per year) from 2010 and multiplying it by 90 years to find the amount of increase since 2010. This amount is added to the 2010 concentration of 390 ppm to find the total concentration of 561 ppm for 2100.Option D is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the concentration of CO2 for the year 2100 given the information provided, we need to use the data on the past increase and the given rate of increase beyond 2010. The CO2 concentration increased from 320 ppm in 1960 to 390 ppm in 2010. From 2010 onwards, the rate of increase is 1.9 ppm per year.

To find the concentration in 2100, we can calculate the number of years from 2010 to 2100, which is 90 years. Multiplying 90 years by the rate of increase (1.9 ppm per year) gives an overall increase of 171 ppm over these 90 years. Adding this to the concentration in 2010 (390 ppm) gives a total CO2 concentration for the year 2100:

390 ppm + (1.9 ppm/year × 90 years) = 390 ppm + 171 ppm = 561 ppm.

Therefore, the correct answer would be (d) 561 ppm.