CARBON DIOXIDE AND THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT Scient

Scientists all over the world are growing increasingly concerned about the steady buildup of trace gases in the atmosphere. Presently, the most abundant trace gas in the atmosphere is carbon dioxide (CO2). This has been due primarily to the use of fossil fuels. Several studies have concluded that CO2 emissions may alter the radioactive balance of the earth, increasing the global temperature and dramatically changing global climate (Jager, "Floating" 6).

The "greenhouse theory," which states that increases in CO2 will warm the earth, was first developed by scientists before the turn of the century. This theory holds that CO2 and other "greenhouse" gases in the atmosphere allow the sun's ultraviolet and visible radiation to penetrate and warm the earth, with the infrared energy the earth radiates absorbed back into the atmosphere. These effects are known collectively as the "greenhouse effect."

Although the greenhouse effect is threatening to make living conditions on earth miserable, it is also why life is livable in the first place. For at least the last 100,000 years atmospheric CO2 naturally generated and consumed by animals and plants was in rough equilibrium. Without this characteristic of holding in heat the globe's mean temperature would be in the 40s rather than a comfortable 59 degress Fahrenheit (Revkin 53).

The current understanding of the greenhouse effect, however, assumes that if all other factors in the greenh

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xtent on how quickly these changes occur or on our ability to delay changes in climate and how successfully global society anticipates and adjusts to them (Sedjo 15). Future Atmospheric Content of Carbon Dioxide The future concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is dependent upon several sociopolitical factors: population growth, settlement patterns, economic development, future energy use and the degradation of the forest and soil. Population Growth The human population is increasing exponentially. The only limiting factor of the extent to which this growth will reach is the earth's carrying capacity. This capacity is in turn dependent on such variables as the production of food, raw materials and energy, political conditions and not least, the influence of the environment and climate. The level at which the world capacity will eventually stabilize is of great importance for the avoidance of unacceptable climatic change. Population size and growth are important factors in the future atmospheric content of carbon dioxide because it plays a role in determining future demands in energy and land resources. The fuel mixes used to meet this demand in energy will determine a large percentage of the future amount of carb
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Approximate Word count = 3773
Approximate Pages = 15 (250 words per page)