How many tons of carbon emissions does it take to raise the temperature of the Earth by one degree and impact of CO2 on climate change and the planet's temperature?
There isn't a simple conversion rate of tons of carbon emissions to global temperature rise. Here's why:
- Cumulative Effect: The total amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, not just the amount added each year, influences temperature. Every ton of CO2 contributes to the overall warming effect.
- Complex Climate System: Earth's climate is a giant and intricate system. Oceans, ice caps, vegetation, and other factors all influence how much warming a certain amount of CO2 causes.
Scientists use complex climate models to estimate the impact of carbon emissions. These models indicate a strong relationship between CO2 concentration and global temperature. The more CO2 in the atmosphere, the more heat gets trapped, leading to a gradual warming trend.
Here are some resources for further reading:
- Impact of CO2 on climate change: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/what-is-the-united-nations-framework-convention-on-climate-change
- How much will Earth warm if carbon dioxide doubles pre-industrial levels: https://gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/global.html
Every time the CO2 concentrations rise by 10 ppm, the mean global temperature increases by 0.1 °C. A temperature rise of just one degree Celsius would also intensify extreme heat waves, which would become more frequent and last longer. This would in turn increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, which especially affect members of the most vulnerable populations. Global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and industry totaled 37.15 billion metric tons (GtCO₂) in 2022. Without carbon dioxide, Earth's natural greenhouse effect would be too weak to keep the average global surface temperature above freezing. By adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, people are supercharging the natural greenhouse effect, causing global temperature to rise. It has been estimated that 2,400 gigatons of CO₂ have been emitted by human activity since 1850, with some absorbed by oceans and land, and about 950 gigatons remaining in the atmosphere. The relationship between carbon emissions and the increase in Earth's temperature is complex and not directly quantifiable in terms of tons of carbon emissions per degree of temperature rise. The impact of carbon emissions on global warming depends on various factors, including the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, feedback loops, and the Earth's climate system.
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