Quote:
Originally Posted by onwebcam
CO2 is a basic element in all life forms. Without it you, me and pretty much everything else would not exist. Greenhouses pump this "greenhouse gas" in to increase growth. If the CO2 levels increase on Earth then naturally all life increases. The grass would be greener on the other side. If Al Gore had his way he would decrease CO2 to 0. That really is his stated goal. Which in reality isn't possible but by doing so essentially you would halt all forms of life/growth.
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I'm sorry OnWebCam, but you sort of have this wrong.
CO2 is not an element. It is a molecule made up of 2 elements, Carbon atoms and Oxygen atoms. There are 2 oxygen atoms for every carbon atom. When all 3 atoms come together, they form the molecule called Carbon Dioxide.
During the day, Plants make food by photosynthesis and need Carbon Dioxide to do it. They essentially inhale carbon dioxide and exhale excess oxygen. At night, there can be no photosynthesis so plants exhale excess carbon dioxide.
More CO2 does not mean more plants, or healthier plants, or more food for us to consume. Plants use only what they need and excess gasses remain in place. And at the same time, LESS plants mean LESS CO2 Consumed and turned into food and oxygen. (Think: Deforestation).
The main problem in how it relates to climate change is that there are is too much Carbon Dioxide and other greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. This doesn't make it harder or easier for plants to breathe. Instead it has everything to do with heat and sunlight. Too much CO2 in the air traps heat.
Normally, a certain percentage of the sunlight we get is reflected back into space. What used to be reflected a long time ago vs what is being reflected back today, is the source of the concern. Less light and heat reflected back into space means more light and heat being absorbed on earth, warming the planet.
So now put the 2 together. Cars and factories and coal plants pollute like crazy, sending tons and tons of CO2 into the air. Plants breathe in CO2. The problem? We are tipping the balance. There is too much CO2 going into the air, and not enough plants to drink it all up. Too much CO2 is bad.