CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) and the CLIMATE
Elemental Ethics

by David G. Kamper, M.D.
(click to respond)

Carbon Dioxide, as defined by Universal lndustrial Gases lncorporated Bulletin, "Air : lts Composition and lts Properties", is an odorless, colorless gas making up currently 390 parts per million (ppm) by volume, or 0.039% of the dry air in the atmosphere. lt has been measured for the world, since 1957, by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The test site is located at Mauna Loa, Hawaii on the flank of Mauna Lao Volcano at an altitude of 3,397 meters. ln 1957 atmospheric CO2 was 315 ppm by volume.

The earth's atmosphere, about 2.5 to 2.0 billion years ago, was believed to be mostly CO2 until anaerobic bacterial photosynthesis and blue-green algae began releasing oxygen (O2) into the atmosphere and sequestering carbon in organic sulfites which lowered the CO2 content of the atmosphere. Through a study of fossil air bubbles in the Antarctica lce Sheet, NOAA researchers estimate that the lowest level of CO2 – 180 ppm by volume – occurred 420,000 years ago at the end of glacial cooling. Since then, the air bubbles indicate that CO2 has ranged from 180 ppm by volume to 300 ppmv showing long-term cycles of cooling and warming.

CO2 is produced by the oxidation of dead organic matter, as well as burning fossil fuels, and by animal and human respiration.

CO2 dissolves in water, including rain, and is carried into rivers, lakes and oceans constituting about 71% of the earth's surface. NOAA estimates that oceans contain 50 times more CO2 than the atmosphere.

CO2 is also removed from air by the photosynthesis process of vegetation which absorbs CO2 and releases O2. As CO2 increases in the atmosphere, it promotes vigorous plant growth.

Throughout this cycle, the average concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is 0.039%, in contrast to nitrogen at 78%, oxygen at 21%, argon at 1.0%, and low concentrations of the rare gases (neon, krypton, and xenon). The concentration of CO2 rises and falls in seasonal patterns at an annual average of 6 ppm, or 1.5% of its current concentration of 390 ppm.

Water vapor, which vies with CO2 in the atmosphere, varies from 0 to 5% at ground level. Water vapor increases as air temperature increases which, in turn, decreases air density and therefore lowers barometric pressure. Altitude decreases the temperature of the troposphere (measuring 6.4 kilometers, or 4 miles at the poles , and 11.3 kilometers or 7 mi at the equator.)

CO2 levels are associated with, but seem to trail temperature increases. Logic would suggest that the two are not necessarily causally related.

The sun's plasma heats the earth in 11 year cycles from a distance of 93 million miles. The sun's surface temperature is 5,778° Kelvin or 3,235.68° F according to the Solar And Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)*. The last solar peak was in 2001 according to SOHO.

According to "e chow", CO2 contributes to global warming by absorbing heat energy from the earth and preventing its release into space acting as a blanket to the earth just as water vapor does. But, there are other causes such as dust, particulate matter, and nitrous oxide that are responsible for ten times more heat trapping than CO2. Methane produces five times more heat trapping than CO2, as do water vapor, volcanic ash and gases.

The money trail of global warming is a strong consideration for determining what to read and what to consider as proven science and what lacks scientific basis.

Former Vice President, Albert Gore, at the time of leaving office in 2001 reported assets of $2 million dollars. Today, after campaigning against CO2 greenhouse gas, promoting the movie, “lnconvenient Truth”, and becoming involved with fourteen “green tech” companies that received more than $2.5 billion in loans, grants and tax breaks, Mr. Gore's wealth has increased, according to Carol D. Leonnigg of the Washington Post newspaper, to about $100,000,000.

Solyndra received $535 million in loans an grants from the government before its collapse. Venture capitalists have, similarly, received billions of dollars to establish other “clean tech” start-ups.

Governments are looking to reduce CO2 and generate revenue with carbon taxes.

Read widely, carefully, and warily the assertions of proponents and opponents of CO2 global warming. Determine if CO2 rising causes or trails temperatures in an associative manner, and if man determines the weather or if natural phenomena dominate the determination.

* The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) is a spacecraft built by a European industrial consortium led by Matra Marconi Space (now Astrium) that was launched on a Lockheed Martin Atlas II AS launch vehicle on December 2, 1995 to study the Sun.