As a matter of scientific fact, CO2 comprises a virtually infinitesimal part
of the air that blankets our planet. Over geological time, CO2 has reached
as high as 8,000 parts per million. The current concentration of 400 parts
per million is at the low end of the average over millions of years. < >
By percentage, the most prevalent atmospheric gases are nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (around 21%), followed by argon (less than 1%). Trailing far behind is carbon dioxide, which comes in at a miniscule 0.04%. In other words, 99.96% of the atmosphere is something other than CO2.
Both sides of the climate debate agree on three things: that CO2 has some effect on warming, that the planet has warmed over the last century, and that CO2 levels have gone up over the same period, from 0.03% to 0.04%. That's an increase of 0.01%, or 100 parts per million, which can also be expressed as ten parts per 100,000.
Ten parts per 100,000. Please keep that ratio in mind for a moment.
To get a visual of what an astonishingly tiny portion of the atmosphere is made up of the increased amount of CO2 that's appeared over the last century, take a look at the University of Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium, which has a seating capacity of slightly more than 100,000. Consider that just ten of those 100,000 people in the stands represent the visual equivalent of the increased level of CO2 in our atmosphere. Just ten. Ten of the football fans in the jam-packed stadium represent the increased amount of CO2. The other 99,990 fans represent the rest of what's in the atmosphere — i.e., everything except the increased amount of CO2.
of the air that blankets our planet. Over geological time, CO2 has reached
as high as 8,000 parts per million. The current concentration of 400 parts
per million is at the low end of the average over millions of years. < >
By percentage, the most prevalent atmospheric gases are nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (around 21%), followed by argon (less than 1%). Trailing far behind is carbon dioxide, which comes in at a miniscule 0.04%. In other words, 99.96% of the atmosphere is something other than CO2.
Both sides of the climate debate agree on three things: that CO2 has some effect on warming, that the planet has warmed over the last century, and that CO2 levels have gone up over the same period, from 0.03% to 0.04%. That's an increase of 0.01%, or 100 parts per million, which can also be expressed as ten parts per 100,000.
Ten parts per 100,000. Please keep that ratio in mind for a moment.
To get a visual of what an astonishingly tiny portion of the atmosphere is made up of the increased amount of CO2 that's appeared over the last century, take a look at the University of Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium, which has a seating capacity of slightly more than 100,000. Consider that just ten of those 100,000 people in the stands represent the visual equivalent of the increased level of CO2 in our atmosphere. Just ten. Ten of the football fans in the jam-packed stadium represent the increased amount of CO2. The other 99,990 fans represent the rest of what's in the atmosphere — i.e., everything except the increased amount of CO2.
