Climate Co2 Sensitivity Is Not As Significant As The Proponents Of Doom Point Out

The negative impact of carbon dioxide on the climatic conditions of the Earth is known to all. Due to an escalation in the production of Co2, there has been a slight increase in the global temperature. Climate Co2 sensitivity can be defined as the average temperature increase of the Earth, which results, due to the percentage doubling of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from 0.028% in the beginning of the pre-industrial era to the expected value in future of 0.056% (expected around 2100).

Recent studies have shown that global warming has been caused mainly due to the radiative forcing by greenhouse gases. The greenhouse gases are responsible for trapping the heat of the Suns rays to regulate the temperature of the Earth. However, biological innovations and geological processes have led to an increase in the level of carbon dioxide. As carbon dioxide traps the heat of the sun, there is an evident increase in the climatic temperature of the globe.

Volcanoes are considered to be a part of the extended carbon cycle. Volcanic eruptions release carbon dioxide from within the earth's interior and counteract the uptake by geological carbon sinks and sedimentary rocks. Howsoever, this contribution is very insignificant as compared to emissions that are made by anthropogenic activities currently.

As a matter of fact, a survey conducted by the United States Geological Department has estimated that human activities generate more than a hundred and thirty times more carbon dioxide than that is emitted by volcanoes.

One such anthropogenic activity is cement manufacturing. It is the third largest cause of man-made emission of carbon dioxide. Cement making has, by far, been responsible for almost 2.5% of the total emission of carbon dioxide from industrial sources world wide. An effort must be made to curb this discharge.

Deforestation, agriculture, and irrigation have fundamentally changed the environment. Excessive land usage has affected the local climate. Land use has influenced the forest cover of the ground and altered the amount of sunlight that is absorbed by the Earth.

Deforestation has made the climate of the Earth significantly hot and dry. The species of trees that are used for shipbuilding and other anthropogenic activities in ancient times can no longer be found anywhere on the Earth.

Therefore, it has become essential for mankind to curb their practices, to save the world from the extremes of global warming. However, climate Co2 sensitivity is only 1 degree Celsius, which is certainly not as significant as is the recent hue and cry made by the proponents of doom.