Are you an EPFL student looking for a semester project?
Work with us on data science and visualisation projects, and deploy your project as an app on top of Graph Search.
Concept
Carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere
Summary
In Earth's atmosphere, carbon dioxide is a trace gas that plays an integral part in the greenhouse effect, carbon cycle, photosynthesis and oceanic carbon cycle. It is one of several greenhouse gases in the atmosphere of Earth. The current global average concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is (0.04%) 421 ppm as of May 2022. This is an increase of 50% since the start of the Industrial Revolution, up from 280 ppm during the 10,000 years prior to the mid-18th century. The increase is due to human activity. Burning fossil fuels is the main cause of these increased CO2 concentrations and also the main cause of climate change. Other large anthropogenic sources include cement production, deforestation, and biomass burning.
While transparent to visible light, carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, absorbing and emitting infrared radiation at its two infrared-active vibrational frequencies. absorbs and emits infrared radiation at wavelengths of 4.26 μm (2,347 cm−1) (asymmetric stretching vibrational mode) and 14.99 μm (667 cm−1) (bending vibrational mode). It plays a significant role in influencing Earth's surface temperature through the greenhouse effect. Light emission from the Earth's surface is most intense in the infrared region between 200 and 2500 cm−1, as opposed to light emission from the much hotter Sun which is most intense in the visible region. Absorption of infrared light at the vibrational frequencies of atmospheric traps energy near the surface, warming the surface and the lower atmosphere. Less energy reaches the upper atmosphere, which is therefore cooler because of this absorption.
Increases in atmospheric concentrations of and other long-lived greenhouse gases such as methane, nitrous oxide and ozone increase the absorption and emission of infrared radiation by the atmosphere, causing the observed rise in average global temperature and ocean acidification. Another direct effect is the CO2 fertilization effect. These changes cause a range of indirect effects of climate change on the physical environment, ecosystems and human societies.
About this result
This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.
Related courses (2)
ENV-610: Ecological economics
This course is an introduction to economic theory applied to environmental issues. It presents the methods used to assess environmental impacts and natural resources as well as environmental regulatio
ENV-410: Science of climate change
The course equips students with a comprehensive scientific understanding of climate change covering a wide range of topics from physical principles, historical climate change, greenhouse gas emissions
Related lectures (12)
Ecological Economics: Planetary Boundaries and Climate Linkages
Explores the linkages between Ecological Economics and Planetary Boundaries, focusing on sustainability and climate change.
Carbon Budget and Emissions Gap
Explores tipping elements, CO2 emission reductions, carbon budget, and global warming thresholds.
Nitrogen Cycle: Key Concepts
Explores the nitrogen cycle, emphasizing microbial mediation, key processes, enzymes, and anthropogenic impacts on nitrogen fixation.
Related publications (32)
Valorisation de la matière dans le bâti: réhabilitation de l’ancien hôtel des Chamois à Leysin (VD)
Dans un contexte où la nécessité de changer les méthodes de construction devient un réel enjeu, la remise en circulation de matériaux dans de nouveaux projets apparaît comme une solution. Elle est de plus en plus mise en avant et sollicitée par certains ac ...
2023How could policy address risks from carbon dioxide removal?
Marie-Valentine Renée Agnès Florin
All options for removing CO2 from the atmosphere and sequestering it for the long term must be assessed for their potential to contribute to reducing climate change risk, but also for their uncertainties, limits and possible adverse impacts. ...
2022Related people (4)