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Why is it commonly believed that carbon dioxide is responsible for global warming?
Carbon dioxide levels in the Earth’s atmosphere have been steadily decreasing.
Carbon dioxide has a longer average lifetime in the atmosphere.
The warming effect associated with carbon dioxide has remained unchanged.
Other greenhouse gases amplify the effect of carbon dioxide.
All Answers 1
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Choose 2 and 4.
Explanation in brief:
- (2) True: CO2 persists for decades to centuries in the atmosphere, so emissions accumulate and produce long‑lasting radiative forcing.
- (4) True: CO2‑driven warming sets off powerful feedbacks (most importantly increased water vapor and ice‑albedo changes) and interacts with other greenhouse gases, amplifying the warming.
Why the others are wrong:
- (1) False — atmospheric CO2 has been rising, not decreasing, since the industrial era.
- (3) Misleading — the basic radiative effect per doubling of CO2 is well‑known, but climate response depends on feedbacks; saying the “warming effect has remained unchanged” doesn’t explain why CO2 is blamed.
Explanation in brief:
- (2) True: CO2 persists for decades to centuries in the atmosphere, so emissions accumulate and produce long‑lasting radiative forcing.
- (4) True: CO2‑driven warming sets off powerful feedbacks (most importantly increased water vapor and ice‑albedo changes) and interacts with other greenhouse gases, amplifying the warming.
Why the others are wrong:
- (1) False — atmospheric CO2 has been rising, not decreasing, since the industrial era.
- (3) Misleading — the basic radiative effect per doubling of CO2 is well‑known, but climate response depends on feedbacks; saying the “warming effect has remained unchanged” doesn’t explain why CO2 is blamed.
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