Question

Correct percentage of carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere is
A. 0.03%
B. 0.3%
C. 1%
D. 1.1%

Answer 1

Hint: Carbon dioxide is the most abundant greenhouse gas present in the atmosphere. An alarming rise in the level of this gas can be seen after the industrial revolution. It is caused by the increased emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by man.

Complete answer: Earth atmosphere is a mixture of gases and most of the part is occupied by Nitrogen. It is about 78% of the total gases in the earth’s atmosphere. It is present in diatomic form as nitrogen gas. After nitrogen, oxygen is the second most abundant gas. Oxygen is needed by living organisms in large scales for breathing. It is mostly produced by the process of photosynthesis done by plants. Oxygen occupies almost 21% of the total gases in the atmosphere. Argon, carbon dioxide and many other gases in total forms the remaining 1%. Carbon occupies about 0.03% of the earth’s atmosphere. In the pre-industrial time, the level of carbon dioxide was only about 280 parts per million. After 2000 AD, the level became about 368 parts per million. This increase is because of the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, etc. The large increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes a greenhouse effect. Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, etc are together known as greenhouse gases. Increase in levels of these gases causes an increase in the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is the gas that contributes more to this process.
Hence, the correct answer is option A.

Note: It is predicted that global warming in near future would have many effects on weather and climate, sea-level change, etc. Average global temperature increases due to global warming. Global warming causes the melting down of glaciers present in Antarctica that causes a gradual rise of the sea level.