An Intro to Carbon Dioxide – Serene’s Synopsis 30
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas: it transfers heat emitted by the Earth and directs some of it back to the surface. In moderation, the Earth’s atmosphere can regulate heat to the appropriate temperature to foster life, but due to recent human activity, excess carbon dioxide is being added to the atmosphere causing temperatures to rise. This is the foundation of global warming.
This recent uptake in the release of CO2 comes from a multitude of sources; a huge factor being the burning of fossil fuels, which release copious amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Fossil fuels are comprised of dead plant and animal matter that has been condensed over millions of years due to pressure from the Earth’s. These plants lived millions of years ago, when the atmosphere had such a high concentration of CO2 that temperatures reached levels that prevented animal species from developing. The plants performed photosynthesis, a process that uses carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to increase biomass, and lowered the earth’s temperature as a result.
The lower temperature accelerated the development of all organisms, but the carbon didn’t disappear. It got stored in dead plant matter, compressed by the Earth, and converted into fossil fuels such as coal and oil. As a result, when said fuel is burnt, the stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere, increasing the amount of heat reflected back onto the surface; raising the temperature.
Global warming brings devastating consequences, such as climate change, ocean acidification, and rising ocean levels, which over time can result in mass species extinction. It has the potential to leave detrimental and irreversible effects, so action must be taken immediately. We must seek alternatives to fossil fuels when it comes to generating electricity, such as wind, solar, and nuclear, which have significantly lower carbon footprints, or biofuel, a “carbon neutral” option, meaning it absorbs the same amount of CO2 it releases.
Temperatures are actively rising; time is running out. It is essential that change is made to decrease the amount of CO2 being released into the atmosphere before it’s too late.
Although I did use information from my cited source, most of the content in this article came from knowledge I already had. This is the first time I’ve written a Synopsis almost entirely independently!
It’s weird that it took me so long to cover CO2, but it’s such a core part of global warming that I kind of overlooked it. However, it’s invaluable to have a foundation of knowledge in regards to such a crucial compound, and it’s important for my next Synopsis! I will be covering algae and its promise for use as a biofuel. It’s fascinating, so if you’d like to learn about it, stay tuned to learn with me!