Multiple Choice Questions

The increase in the carbon dioxide content in atmosphere is mainly due to 1 the burning of foss...........

Geography and Environment (RAS) World climates

The increase in the carbon dioxide content in atmosphere is mainly due to :

1) the burning of fossil fuels in large quantities

2) the industrial discharge being emitted

3) large-scale deforestation

only 1

1 and 2

1 and 3

all of the above

CO2 plays an important role in climate because it is one of the atmospheric "greenhouse" gases (GHGs) which keep the Earth's surface about 33 degrees warmer than the -18C temperature it would be at were they not present.
Most significantly, the concentration of CO2 has been rising exponentially (at a rate of about 0.17% per year) since the industrial revolution, due mainly to the combustion of fossil fuels but also to large-scale tropical deforestation which depletes the climate system's capacity for photosynthesis. Hence option 3rd is correct.