Processes which release carbon dioxide

The animals and plants eventually die. Dead organisms are eaten by decomposers and carbon in their bodies is returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. In some conditions decomposition is blocked. The plant and animal material may then be available as fossil fuel for combustion in the future. During combustion or burning, carbon from fossil fuels combine with oxygen in the air to form carbon dioxide and water vapor.

These natural hydrocarbon fuels come from once-living organisms and are made from carbon and hydrogen, which release carbon dioxide and water when they burn. Not only does the burning of forests release carbon dioxide, but deforestation can also affects the level of carbon dioxide.

Trees reduce the amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during the process of photosynthesis, so fewer trees means more carbon dioxide left in the atmosphere. NPR's Robert Krulwich and Odd Todd, in partnership with Wild Chronicles, present an animated cartoon series on the atom at the heart of global warming: carbon. In episode 3: If you break a carbon bond -- presto! Skip to Main Content Area. Our focus is on helping people understand how climate change is being caused and encouraging them to take action everyday.

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Advanced search feed me To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty. You are here Home. Greenhouse gases. Carbon Dioxide. Transportation sector The transportation sector is the second largest source of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. Industrial sector The industrial sector is the third largest source of man-made carbon dioxide emissions. Industrial processes There are many industrial processes that produce significant amounts of carbon dioxide emissions as a by product of chemical reactions needed in their production process.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Natural Sources Apart from being created by human activities, carbon dioxide is also released into the atmosphere by natural processes. Ocean-atmosphere exchange The largest natural source of carbon dioxide emissions is from ocean-atmosphere exchange.

Plant and animal respiration An important natural source of carbon dioxide is plant and animal respiration, which accounts for Soil respiration and decomposition Another important natural source of carbon dioxide is soil respiration and decomposition, which accounts for Volcanic eruptions A minor amount carbon dioxide is created by volcanic eruptions, which accounts for 0.

To go back to the main page for the sources of emissions click here 1. Jain, M. Raupach, J. Schwinger, S. Sitch, B. Stocker, N. Viovy, S. Zaehle, C. Huntingford, P. Friedlingstein, R. Andres, T. Boden, C. Jourdain, T. Conway, R. Houghton, J. House, G. Marland, G. Peters, G. Van Der Werf, A. Andrew, L. Bopp, J. Canadell, E. Kato, P. Ciais, S. Doney, C. Enright, N. Zeng, R. Keeling, K. Klein Goldewijk, S.

Natural sources include decomposition, ocean release and respiration. Human sources come from activities like cement production, deforestation as well as the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas.