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Oct 11, 2023

Letter: Another look at marbles and CO2

EJ Donmoyer’s May 7 letter (“Can you find the CO2?”) states that the proportion

EJ Donmoyer's May 7 letter ("Can you find the CO2?") states that the proportion of CO2 molecules in the atmosphere is the same as one black marble out of 2,500 total marbles. That was true 10 years ago, when the atmospheric CO2 concentration was 400 parts per million (ppm). But today, with atmospheric CO2 concentrations above 420 ppm (https://gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/), you would have to remove 120 of EJ Donmoyer's non-black marbles to get the proportions right.

Then there's the bigger picture: Before the industrial revolution in the mid 1800s, the proportion of CO2 molecules in the atmosphere was only 280 ppm. With 420 ppm today, that's a 50% increase in less than 200 years, all due to human activity (https://www.climate.gov/news-features/climate-qa/how-do-we-know-build-carbon-dioxide-atmosphere-caused-humans). So, one out of every three atmospheric CO2 molecules was put there by humans, not a mere one out of every 30 as Donmoyer incorrectly states.

Those extra CO2 molecules have caused a 2°F increase in the global average temperature above the 1850-1900 average (https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/01/1132387). More extra CO2 molecules are guaranteed to cause even more warming. Yes, CO2 is only a trace gas, but it's a very powerful one. It makes life possible. Without CO2 and the other greenhouse gases, our global average temperature would be a frigid 0°F – so cold that the oceans would freeze solid. A little CO2 goes a long way, but too much is like piling on too many blankets, causing us to overheat. We can solve this problem; we have the technology. Let's do it!

— Ann Bykerk-Kauffman, Chico

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