How long does CO2 stay in the atmosphere and can you explain why the increase of CO2 in atmosphere doesn't really affect global temperature change?
CO2 can linger in the atmosphere for a very long time, somewhere between 300 and 1,000 years. That's because it doesn't readily react with other atmospheric compounds. This long lifespan makes it a very potent greenhouse gas.
Actually, the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere absolutely does affect global temperature change. It's a major driver of global warming. CO2 traps heat radiating from the Earth's surface, causing a warming effect. The recent rise in CO2 levels is closely linked to the observed increase in global temperatures.
Eventually, the land and oceans will take up most of the extra carbon dioxide, but as much as 20 percent may remain in the atmosphere for many thousands of years. The changes in the carbon cycle impact each reservoir. Excess carbon in the atmosphere warms the planet and helps plants on land grow more. Once it's added to the atmosphere, it hangs around, for a long time: between 300 to 1,000 years. Thus, as humans change the atmosphere by emitting carbon dioxide, those changes will endure on the timescale of many human lives. Some of the excess carbon dioxide is absorbed quickly, but some will remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years, due in part to the very slow process by which carbon is transferred to ocean sediments. Some of the excess heat that greenhouse gases force the Earth's surface to absorb in any given year is hidden for a time by the ocean. This delayed reaction means rising greenhouse gas levels don't immediately have their full impact on surface temperature. When there's more CO2 in the atmosphere, it makes the atmosphere warmer by trapping heat. Since humans are adding more CO2 to the atmosphere, that helps explain why temperatures are increasing around the world. Some of this energy is re-emitted, heading back towards space. At this stage, it interacts with molecules of CO2 in a way that prevents some of it from escaping Earth's atmosphere. The trapped heat energy leads to increased average global surface air temperatures. Depending on the amount of CO2 released, between 15% and 40% will remain in the atmosphere for up to 2000 years, after which a new balance is established between the atmosphere, the land biosphere and the ocean. As greenhouse gas emissions blanket the Earth, they trap the sun's heat. This leads to global warming and climate change. The world is now warming faster than at any point in recorded history. Warmer temperatures over time are changing weather patterns and disrupting the usual balance of nature.
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