Quote:
One volcanic eruption eclipses everything we have pumped out as far as green house gases since the industrial revolution.
I really have to say something here, because I've seen this statement over and over on this board, and it just isn't true. Human activity produces 100 times more CO2 than volcanoes, averaged over time. Here's one source:
USGS
The other thing I have seen stated in this thread and in others is that man produces an insignificant amount of CO2 to have an effect on chemical balance of the atmosphere. The atmosphere contains about 720 billion tons carbon. The natural flux of CO2 in and out of the atmosphere from natural processes like photosynthesis, volcanoes, decomposition and the like is about 60 billion tons carbon per year. Man is adding about 6 billion tons or more to that stream from the burning of fossil fuels. 6/60 is over 10%. That is not an insignificant number and it easily accounts for the measurable increase of CO2 that we are seeing.
Last edited by Cody; 01/15/2012 12:30 AM.
