Atmosphere

Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere

Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are the highest they've been in the past 400,000 years. The rise in CO2 levels is related to burning fossil fuels and other harmful gases. CO2 can be put into the air by plant and animal respiration. It can also be put into the atmosphere by decay by fungi, bacteria, organic matter, cement production, the release of dissolved CO2. CO2 is released back into the atmosphere through warming of the oceans and water. Over the past 100 years CO2 levels have been gradually rising and falling, but recently they have been rapidly sky rocketing up.

Pollution

CO2 is one of the most common pollutants. It is known as a greenhouse gas. This is when gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane allow sunlight to pass through the atmosphere , but retain heat radiated back from the Earth's surface. CO2 is considered a pollutant when it's put into the atmosphere by cars, planes, power plants, and any other human activity involving burning gas and fossil fuels. Fossil fuels aren't always a pollutant if they are renewable. This means that it can be reused or recycled. There are other forms of pollution, such as smog. Smog is an air pollutant that is more hazardous on hot days. Breathing in smog can have a variety of negative effects on your lungs. Smog contains a pollutant called ozone. Ozone isn't always bad but when it's in the troposphere it acts as a tool that absorbs some of the radiation coming to earth. There are many other harmful pollutants that are put into the air by humans, such as:

• Sulfur dioxide
• Nitrogen oxides
• Ammonia
• Carbon monoxide
• Ozone
• Airborne particles