Carbon dioxide's significance in the Earth's atmosphere, its impact on climate change, and seasonal fluctuations in CO2 levels.
Carbon dioxide plays a crucial role in the Earth's atmosphere as a greenhouse gas even though it is present in small amounts. Unlike water vapor, which varies due to atmospheric processes, the concentration of carbon dioxide is independent and influenced by human activities like burning fossil fuels.
The average concentration of CO2 in the pre-industrial atmosphere was about 280 parts per million (ppm). However, due to human activities like burning fossil fuels, CO2 levels have increased to around 370 ppm, impacting the Earth's climate significantly.
Earth's upper atmosphere, with less water vapor and denser properties, allows carbon dioxide to influence how much infrared radiation escapes to space. This gas levels fluctuate seasonally due to factors like plant growth and decay.
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