Are the Increases in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and Other Greenhouse Gases During the Industrial Era Caused by Human Activities?
Yes, the increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases during the Industrial Era are caused by human activities. In fact, the observed increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations does not reveal the full extent of human emissions in that it accounts for only 55% of the CO2 released by human activity since 1959. The rest has been taken up by plants on land and by the oceans. In all cases, atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, and their increases, are determined by the balance between sources (emissions of the gas from human activities and natural systems) and sinks (the removal of the gas from the atmosphere by conversion to a different chemical compound). Fossil fuel combustion (plus a smaller contribution from cement manufacture) is responsible for more than 75% of human-caused CO2 emissions. Land-use change (primarily deforestation) is responsible for the remainder. For methane, another important greenhouse gas, emissions generated by human activit
Related Questions
- Frequently Asked Question 7.1 Are the Increases in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and Other Greenhouse Gases During the Industrial Era Caused by Human Activities?
- How do we know the increase in carbon dioxide concentrations is caused by human activities?
- How are human activities changing the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere?
