CO
2
Content of the atmosphere
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Carbon
dioxide
is
a
gas
and
is
a
component
of
air.
In
the
primordial
atmosphere
of
the
Earth,
which
was
free
of
oxygen,
CO
2
was
present
in
higher
concentrations
(up
to
10%).
With
the
beginning
of
photosynthesis,
carbon
dioxide
was
converted
into
organic
matter and oxygen was released into the atmosphere.
Figure: Carbon cycle, conversion of CO
2
The
organic
matter
produced
was
partly
deposited
and
transformed
(fossil
fuels:
peat,
lignite, petroleum, natural gas).
By
burning
fossil
fuels
today,
a
large
part
of
the
CO
2
is
released
again
and
the
concentration
in
the
atmosphere,
which
has
been
almost
constant
over
thousands
of
years,
increases
as
a
result.
Since
CO
2
is
a
greenhouse
gas,
this
has
an
effect
on
the
earth's climate (keyword: greenhouse effect!).
The
partial
pressure
of
CO
2
in
the
air
increases
and
thus
also
the
equilibrium
concentration of CO
2
in the water.
CO
2
content of the air: 1750
280 ppm = 0.0280 vol%
2022
418 ppm = 0.0418 vol%
(Annual mean)
(Data NOAA)
Figure: Carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere - historical development (Mauna Loa, Hawaii)
Source of data (2022): ftp://aftp.cmdl.noaa.gov/products/trends/co2/co2_mm_mlo.txt
The
figure
shows
the
CO
2
levels
in
the
atmosphere
for
the
period
1958
to
2022
from
Mauna
Loa
on
Hawaii.
The
rhythmic
seasonal
fluctuations
and
the
overall
increase
in
concentration during this period are clearly visible.
Anker
(1 ppmv (mL/m³) = 0.0001 vol% or 1 vol% = 10,000 ppmv)