The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to the greenhouse effect and global warming. Deforestation exacerbates the problem by reducing CO₂ absorption. Scientists expect atmospheric CO₂ levels to continue to rise, doubling preindustrial levels by the century's end.
Sources and Effects of Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a significant greenhouse gas, mainly released through the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. When these fossil fuels are burned, large quantities of CO₂ are emitted into the atmosphere. This process occurs both in industrial settings and through the exhaust of vehicles. An important factor contributing to the rise in atmospheric CO₂ is the destruction of tropical forests, which play a crucial role in absorbing CO₂ and producing oxygen through the process of photosynthesis.
Currently, about half of the carbon dioxide released from the burning of fossil fuels remains in the atmosphere, while the rest is absorbed by plants or dissolved in seawater. The increasing concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere over the past century has led to a significant rise in the greenhouse effect, contributing to global warming. In addition to fossil fuels, methane released from livestock manure and waste in landfills, as well as carbon released from wildfires and volcanic eruptions, also adds to the atmospheric CO₂ levels.
It is important to note that deforestation not only contributes to CO₂ emissions but also decreases the planet's capacity to absorb this greenhouse gas, exacerbating the problem. Going forward, scientists expect the amount of CO₂ to double its preindustrial level by the end of the twenty-first century, largely due to human activities. The measurement of isotopic signatures confirms that the added CO₂ is primarily from the burning of fossil fuels.