NASA reveals startling videos demonstrating human impact on rising CO2 levels

Houston: NASA has released a series of captivating videos showcasing the escalating concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere due to human activity. These videos provide a visual representation of the impact across different regions of the world.

The space agency has shared three distinct videos, each focusing on a specific aspect of the issue.

NASA's visualisations depict the addition of CO2 to Earth's atmosphere throughout 2021, divided into four primary contributors: fossil fuels depicted in orange, biomass burning in red, land ecosystems in green, and the ocean in blue. The dots present on the surface signify the absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide by land ecosystems (green) and the ocean (blue).

The northeastern region of the United States has been identified as a pollution hotspot in the video covering North America and South America. The orange hue dominating the atmosphere signifies the widespread presence of fossil fuel emissions, serving as a stark reminder of the detrimental effects of burning coal, gas, and oil. In the video featuring Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, higher concentrations of fossil fuel emissions are visibly released by European nations and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, a less prominent cloud of red agricultural burn emissions can be observed emanating from central Africa.

In the Asia and Australia video, a significant amount of pollution obscures Beijing, China. Comparatively, Australia exhibits fewer fossil fuel emissions, attributed to its relatively low population density. However, it is worth noting that Australia still holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest coal emissions per capita globally. The videos also highlight the delicate balance between land and ocean carbon dioxide exchanges within the atmosphere. While these exchanges strive to maintain equilibrium, it is the overwhelming influx of fossil fuel emissions that disrupts this delicate balance, resulting in elevated CO2 levels.

The preservation of Earth's temperature, crucial for supporting life as we know it, is primarily attributed to greenhouse gases, which trap solar heat. Among these gases, carbon dioxide (CO2) plays a pivotal role in both retaining and emitting heat. However, the excessive accumulation of CO2 poses a significant threat to human existence.

According to Climate.gov, "Without carbon dioxide, Earth's natural greenhouse effect would be too weak to keep the average global surface temperature above freezing. By adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, people are supercharging the natural greenhouse effect, causing global temperatures to rise."

Presently, CO2 levels hover just below 420 parts per million, surpassing levels observed over millions of years and surpassing anything experienced during human history.

It is worth noting that the rate of CO2 increase in the atmosphere would be even more alarming if not for the existence of land and ocean carbon sinks. These natural systems effectively absorb approximately half of human emissions annually.

The videos are being hailed for providing a tangible representation of the intricate dynamics at play.