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What is the impact of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels on the Earth's surface temperature, and how does the chemical composition of greenhouse gases contribute to global warming?

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ago by (139k points)
The increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide  CO2  levels have a significant impact on the Earth's surface temperature. CO2, along with other greenhouse gases like methane  CH4 , nitrous oxide  N2O , and water vapor  H2O , play a crucial role in global warming by trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere.The greenhouse effect is a natural process that helps maintain the Earth's temperature at a level suitable for sustaining life. Sunlight passes through the Earth's atmosphere and warms the surface. The Earth's surface then emits some of this energy as infrared radiation back into space. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb and re-emit a portion of this infrared radiation, trapping heat and causing the Earth's surface temperature to rise.The chemical composition of greenhouse gases contributes to global warming due to their ability to absorb and re-emit infrared radiation. Each greenhouse gas has a different capacity to absorb and retain heat, known as its global warming potential  GWP . CO2 is the most abundant greenhouse gas and has a GWP of 1. Methane  CH4  has a GWP of 28-36, and nitrous oxide  N2O  has a GWP of 265-298, making them much more potent greenhouse gases than CO2. However, their concentrations in the atmosphere are much lower than CO2.Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, have led to a significant increase in atmospheric CO2 levels. This increase in CO2 levels, along with the rise in other greenhouse gases, has enhanced the greenhouse effect, causing global warming. As the Earth's surface temperature rises, it leads to various consequences, including more frequent and severe heatwaves, melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels, and changes in weather patterns, which can result in more extreme weather events.To mitigate the impact of increasing atmospheric CO2 levels and global warming, it is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and adopting sustainable land-use practices. Additionally, research into carbon capture and storage technologies can help reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere.
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