0
$\begingroup$

What effects does the raising level of CO2 in the atmosphere have, besides being a greenhouse gas and responsible for the increased acidity of the oceans?

What other environmental damages does it cause?

$\endgroup$
6
  • $\begingroup$ Contributes to acid rain, poisons aerobic respirators (unless they also produce oxygen). Anyone else have more? $\endgroup$
    – Jim
    Apr 21, 2014 at 13:17
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Jim: I am not sure it poisons aerobic respirators, maybe it suffocates them in a closer room, which is not part of the question. $\endgroup$ Apr 21, 2014 at 13:59
  • $\begingroup$ True, I misspoke. It poisons blood and other oxygen-carrying media. Not all aerobic respirators. $\endgroup$
    – Jim
    Apr 21, 2014 at 14:03
  • $\begingroup$ This is a good question for the new Earth Science stack exchange, that should hopefully reach public beta soon. $\endgroup$
    – gerrit
    Apr 21, 2014 at 15:04
  • $\begingroup$ @Jim you are confusing dioxide with monoxide, which last is a poison. CO2 is plant food and we exude something like 10000ppm in our exhalation though the process of oxygen exchange in the lungs. It is not dangerous unless in a closed room with no oxygen. The biosphere has survived with thousands ppm CO2 at various palaiontoligical ages. $\endgroup$
    – anna v
    Apr 21, 2014 at 18:16

1 Answer 1

2
$\begingroup$

As CO2 increases, the photosynthesis rate in plants generally increases. The degree of the effect is species dependent. See Effects of Rising Atmospheric Concentrations of Carbon Dioxide on Plants.

$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Right. It is a necessary part of life, if CO2 falls in the atmosphere below 150ppm plants die. Real green houses keep their atmosphere artificially at 1000ppm for fast growth. $\endgroup$
    – anna v
    Apr 21, 2014 at 18:18

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.