past; therefore, the current increase in CO2 levels is merely due to another natural (non- anthropogenic) fluctuation., how would you respond to this argument?
The carbon dioxide is the essential gas for life on the earth as it traps the long-wave radiations going out of the earth, keeping it warm. At present, the levels of this gas have risen due to various human-induced activities as naturally, the levels can’t rise significantly.
The levels of carbon dioxide have changed continuously in the past because of the variation in the temperature of the earth. This variation in the temperature has occurred due to the changes in the wobbling and earth’s tilt with time. The carbon dioxide levels are directly proportional to the change in temperature. The levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere became low during the glacial periods because the dissolution of carbon dioxide in water becomes more as the temperature decreases. During the interglacial periods, more sunlight reached the earth’s surface resulting in the melting of the glaciers and thus the rise in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere occurs.
At present, the rise in carbon dioxide levels is because of the anthropogenic activities caused by humans. Due to the industrial revolution, more consumption of fossil fuels has led to an increase in the greenhouse gases, out of which the carbon dioxide is the major one which increases the temperature of the earth by trapping the heat along with water vapour. After the last glacial maximum, there is no change in carbon dioxide, but after the industrial revolution, it has started increasing. The keeling curve gives an increase in carbon dioxide.
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