Final answer:
Human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, have caused a steep rise in atmospheric CO2 levels, leading to climate change. CO2 has increased from a pre-industrial level of around 280 ppm to over 400 ppm, a level not seen in 800,000 years. This rapid increase correlates with a rise in global temperatures and is expected to impact biodiversity significantly.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patterns and Causes of Recent CO2 Increase
The recent increase in atmospheric CO2 levels can be largely attributed to human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
Historical patterns showed that CO2 levels cycled between 180 ppm and 300 ppm over 50,000 years. However, since the Industrial Revolution, these levels have surged past the historical maximum, reaching over 400 ppm in contemporary times. This rapid and unprecedented increase has happened within mere hundreds of years, a blink of an eye in geological terms. Evidence shows that this surge corresponds with the rise in the global average temperature, indicating a strong link between CO2 levels and climate change.
Furthermore, the isotopic signatures of the CO2 added to the atmosphere confirm that it comes from the combustion of fossil fuels. The planet's natural carbon sinks, like oceans and forests, have absorbed some of this CO2, but not enough to prevent a significant rise in atmospheric levels. This trend is expected to continue if emissions are not curbed, leading to severe implications for global warming and biodiversity.