What is Carbon FootprintWhat is Carbon Footprint

Is a measure of the impact our activities Is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day to greenhouse gases produced in our day to day lives through burning fossil fuels for day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transprotation.electricity, heating and transprotation.

Carbon Footprint Carbon Footprint GraphGraph

What is carbon dioxideWhat is carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is an inorganic chemical compound with a Carbon dioxide is an inorganic chemical compound with a wide range of commercial uses, from the production of wide range of commercial uses, from the production of lasers to the carbonation of soft drinks. This compound lasers to the carbonation of soft drinks. This compound exists naturally from the Earth's environment, and it is exists naturally from the Earth's environment, and it is produced in a variety of ways; commercial carbon dioxide produced in a variety of ways; commercial carbon dioxide is usually derived from the byproducts of industrial is usually derived from the byproducts of industrial processes. This humble gas has become a topic of interest processes. This humble gas has become a topic of interest for humans because it is classified among the greenhouse for humans because it is classified among the greenhouse gases, gases which impact the Earth's environment when gases, gases which impact the Earth's environment when they reach high concentrations in the atmosphere. they reach high concentrations in the atmosphere.

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Where on earth do we find Where on earth do we find carbon dioxide?carbon dioxide?

Carbon dioxide can be found mainly in air, Carbon dioxide can be found mainly in air, but also in water as a part of the carbon but also in water as a part of the carbon cycle.cycle.

The aquatic carbon cycleThe aquatic carbon cycle

The terrestrial Carbon CycleThe terrestrial Carbon Cycle

How to help reduce thisHow to help reduce this

Some things that you can do :Some things that you can do : Turn it off when not in use ( lights, television, DVD player, Turn it off when not in use ( lights, television, DVD player,

HI FI, computer) HI FI, computer) Turn down the central heating slightly Turn down the central heating slightly Turn down the water heating settingTurn down the water heating setting Check the central heating timer setting remember there is Check the central heating timer setting remember there is

no point heating the house after you have left for workno point heating the house after you have left for work Do your weekly shopping in a single tripDo your weekly shopping in a single trip Hang out the washing to dry rather than tumble drying itHang out the washing to dry rather than tumble drying it

Reduce cont.Reduce cont.

Travel less and travel more carbon footprint friendly.Travel less and travel more carbon footprint friendly.- Car share to work, or for the kids school runCar share to work, or for the kids school run- Use the bus or a train rather than your carUse the bus or a train rather than your car- For short journeys either walk or cycleFor short journeys either walk or cycle- Try to reduce the number of flights you takeTry to reduce the number of flights you take- See if your employer will allow you to work from See if your employer will allow you to work from

home one day a weekhome one day a week

EffectsEffects

The troposphere is the lower part of the The troposphere is the lower part of the atmosphere, of about 10-15 kilometers thick. atmosphere, of about 10-15 kilometers thick.

When sun light reaches the earth, some of the When sun light reaches the earth, some of the converted to heat. converted to heat.

Life as we know it exists only because of this Life as we know it exists only because of this natural greenhouse effect, because this process natural greenhouse effect, because this process regulates the earth’s temperatureregulates the earth’s temperature..

Carbon dioxide emissions by Carbon dioxide emissions by humanshumans

Due to human activities, the amount of CO2 Due to human activities, the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere has been rising released into the atmosphere has been rising extensively during the last 150 years. As a result, extensively during the last 150 years. As a result, it has exceeded the amount sequestered in it has exceeded the amount sequestered in biomass, the oceans, and other sinks.biomass, the oceans, and other sinks.

Humans have been increasing the amount of Humans have been increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in air by burning of fossil fuels, by carbon dioxide in air by burning of fossil fuels, by producing cement and by carrying out land producing cement and by carrying out land clearing and forest combustion.clearing and forest combustion.

Carbon Dioxide and healthCarbon Dioxide and health

Carbon dioxide is essential for internal Carbon dioxide is essential for internal respiration in a human body. Internal respiration in a human body. Internal respiration is a process, by which oxygen is respiration is a process, by which oxygen is transported to body tissues and carbon transported to body tissues and carbon dioxide is carried away from them.dioxide is carried away from them.

Carbon dioxide is a guardian of the pH of Carbon dioxide is a guardian of the pH of the blood, which is essential for survivalthe blood, which is essential for survival

Balances in Carbon Dioxide LevelsBalances in Carbon Dioxide Levels

Approximately 90 to 100 Pg of carbon Approximately 90 to 100 Pg of carbon moves back and forth between the moves back and forth between the atmosphere and the oceans, and between atmosphere and the oceans, and between the atmosphere and the land biosphere. the atmosphere and the land biosphere. Although these exchange rates are large Although these exchange rates are large relative to the total amount of carbon stored relative to the total amount of carbon stored in the atmosphere, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, the concentration of CO2 was constantwas constant

FactsFacts Marine plants and animals play a role in the Marine plants and animals play a role in the

uptake and release of carbon dioxide in the uptake and release of carbon dioxide in the ocean. Plants, primarily phytoplankton but ocean. Plants, primarily phytoplankton but also macro-phytes such as this seaweed, take also macro-phytes such as this seaweed, take up carbon dioxide and release oxygen, which up carbon dioxide and release oxygen, which oxygen-dependent animals need to survive.oxygen-dependent animals need to survive.