CO₂ and Global Warming: The Truth

Jeff Mohn, Jordan Burris, and Derek Poper

October 3, 2007

The Objective

The general purpose of this report is to outline the causes of CO₂ emissions in the atmosphere. In addition, show the role that these emissions have played in bringing about the current state global warming.

Humanities role in CO₂ production

Fossil Fuel Emissions put out at least 5 billion metric tons of CO₂ per year. The picture below gives a good description of how much CO₂ is put into and taken out of the atmosphere each year. The picture shows us that man produced CO₂ is a substantial factor in the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere. By viewing the picture we can tell that if it were not for man, instead of an excess of 20 billion metric tons of CO₂, there would be a lack of 2 bilion metric tons of CO₂ each year.

Natures role in CO₂ production

• Animals, including humans, cause about 57 billion tons of CO₂ emissions each year by simply breathing.
• Volcano Emissions: Scientists have calculated that volcanoes emit approximately 230 million tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere every year. In our research, we have discovered that in a prehistoric event knwon as Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, volcano CO₂ emissions brought about a dramatic change in global temperature. This change was so great that it took the planet over 200,000 years to regulate the global average temperature. (Cited from ProQuest The Nation
• Natural Fire Emissions can cause up to, and not limited to, 2 billion tons of CO₂ emissions each year.

The effects of CO₂ in the atmosphere

As we continue our research into the effects of CO₂ in the atmosphere, we discovered that the only part that CO₂ played in global warming was the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effeect has been around for milenia but the increase of ondustrial CO₂ has only served to add to it. This led to the realization that CO₂ cannot be the only cause of global warming. With further research we came to the supplementary cause; the sun.

The Suns Effects on Global Warming

There gave been recent reports from various scientific agencies, most notably NASA SORCE Project Homepage and National Geographic Mars melts which state the sun is growing hotter. This has led our group to the conclusion that the real source of global warming is a combination of the forces of both humanity and nature.

Summary

The conclusion that we have come to with our research is the amount of C02 emissions in the atmosphere have increased over the time. But, the amount of c02 in the atmosphere alone is not the cause of global warming. Global warming is the product of humanity and nature. There are those who say that if we stop polluting the atmosphere then eventually global warming will stop. However, the reality is that these actions will only serve to slow global warming down. If the increase of the Suns temperature continues then the same can be said of global warming it will continue on its path of increase.