Question

According to the Global Carbon Project (GCP); in 2018, there was a record 11.5 Gigatons of carbon (42.5 Gt CO2) anthropogenic emissions. ~45% of this emitted carbon dioxide partitions into and is added to the atmosphere, where its residence life is well over 100 years. ~25% of emitted CO2 is taken up by the ocean sink while the remaining ~30% is absorbed by land masses. Assuming 45% of emitted carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere, calculate the concentration increase in atmospheric CO2 (in units of ppm) that is due to the 2018 anthropogenic emissions alone ( im assuming 42.5 Gt)

Answer 1

Answer:

given mass of Carbon = 11.5 Gt

given mass of CO₂ = 42.5 Gt

Given that 45 % of the CO₂ is added to the atmosphere.

therefore quantity of CO₂ added to the atmosphere = 42.5 x 0.45 = 19.125 Gt

                                                                                          

We know that the mass of atmosphere = 5.15 x 10⁶ Gt

ppm of CO₂ = [mass of CO₂ / mass of atmosphere] x 10⁶

                 = [19.125 / (5.15 x 10⁶) ] x 10⁶

                 = 19.125 / 5.15

                 = 3.7 ppm

Thus the concentration increase of CO₂ in atmosphere = 3.7 ppm.

                                                                   =