I WONDER - How Long Does Carbon Dioxide Stay In The Atmosphere?

CO2 has a long lifespan in the atmosphere, persisting for thousands of years, which means current emissions will impact the climate for generations. Human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation increase CO2 levels and disrupt the natural carbon cycle, where plants, oceans, and soils absorb and store carbon, a vital process for maintaining climate balance.

What characteristic of CO2 allows it to remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years?

• Its ability to dissolve in water

• Its interaction with sunlight

• Its chemical stability

• Its high density

How do current CO2 emissions affect future generations?

• They will have no impact

• They will only affect the current climate

• They will continue to influence the climate for many years

• They will be absorbed quickly by the oceans

Which human activities are mentioned as increasing CO2 levels?

• Recycling and composting

• Burning fossil fuels and deforestation

• Urban gardening and tree planting

• Using solar panels and wind turbines

What natural process is disrupted by increased CO2 levels?

• The nitrogen cycle

• The carbon cycle

• The water cycle

• The oxygen cycle

What role do plants, oceans, and soils play in the carbon cycle?

• They prevent carbon from forming

• They convert carbon into oxygen

• They absorb and store carbon

• They release carbon into the atmosphere