Approximately what portion of Earth's atmosphere is carbon dioxide?

Study for the Introduction to Physical Geology Exam with quizzes and multiple choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations to help you prepare effectively. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Approximately what portion of Earth's atmosphere is carbon dioxide?

Explanation:
Carbon dioxide is a trace gas in the atmosphere. Its concentration is measured in parts per million, and today it sits at about 400 ppm, which is roughly 0.04% of the air by volume. That is well below one tenth of a percent, so the correct approximate portion is less than 0.1%. If CO2 were at 0.5%, 1%, or 5%, it would be a much larger share of the atmosphere and would have produced much more noticeable effects on climate and air properties than we currently observe.

Carbon dioxide is a trace gas in the atmosphere. Its concentration is measured in parts per million, and today it sits at about 400 ppm, which is roughly 0.04% of the air by volume. That is well below one tenth of a percent, so the correct approximate portion is less than 0.1%. If CO2 were at 0.5%, 1%, or 5%, it would be a much larger share of the atmosphere and would have produced much more noticeable effects on climate and air properties than we currently observe.

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