Question

Explain the ways that carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere. How is it removed? Does most carbon enter the atmosphere as carbon dioxide or is it in another form? How do increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere affect the earth?

Answer 1

Carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere by human activities. When hydrocarbon fuels (i.e. wood, coal, natural gas, gasoline, and oil) are burned, carbon dioxide is released. During combustion or burning, carbon from fossil fuels combine with oxygen in the air to form carbon dioxide and water vapor.Carbon moves from fossil fuels to the atmosphere when fuels are burned. When humans burn fossil fuels to power factories, power plants, cars and trucks, most of the carbon quickly enters the atmosphere as carbon dioxide gas. Each year, five and a half billion tons of carbon is released by burning fossil fuels.Carbon dioxide causes about 20 percent of Earth's greenhouse effect; water vapor accounts for about 50 percent; and clouds account for 25 percent.Likewise, when carbon dioxide concentrations rise, air temperatures go up, and more water vapor evaporates into the atmosphere—which then amplifies greenhouse heating