Final answer:
Humans' net contribution of atmospheric carbon each year is an addition of over 30 billion tons, mainly from burning fossil fuels and deforestation. This surpasses natural carbon removal and leads to increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
Humans' net contribution to atmospheric carbon each year is significantly more than the amount removed by human efforts. Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and other land uses play a major role in releasing gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Human-induced emissions now far surpass natural processes such as removal by vegetation or absorption by the oceans.
Since the Industrial Revolution, the impact of human activity on atmospheric carbon levels has been profound, resulting in a dramatic rise in CO2 concentrations—from approximately 280 parts per million (ppm) in pre-industrial times to over 408 ppm in recent years. The increased release of carbon, primarily in the form of CO2, has been linked to changes in the climate. It is estimated that human activities release over 30 billion tons of CO2 annually, and this substantial release adds to the existing CO2 levels because the natural removal processes are not keeping pace with the emissions.
Meanwhile, actions such as deforestation not only contribute to increased atmospheric CO2 due to the carbon stored in trees being released, but also reduce the planet's capacity to remove CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. This leads to a net increase in atmospheric carbon, with a profound influence on our climate and environment.