Following Carbon Dioxide Through the Atmosphere
Carbon dioxide plays a significant role in trapping heat in Earth’s atmosphere. The gas is released from human activities like burning fossil fuels, and the concentration of carbon dioxide moves and changes through the seasons.
Using observations from NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO-2) satellite, scientists developed a model of the behavior of carbon in the atmosphere from September 1, 2014 to August 31, 2015.
Scientists can use models like this one to better understand and predict where concentrations of carbon dioxide could be especially high or low, based on activity on the ground.
Weather patterns come in many pretty colors.
Yes, carbon dioxide is also known as carbonic acid anhydride. It ionizes when dissolved in water and its dissolution is highly dependent on temperature and pressure. Plus there are mineral/biologic buffers so tracking via pH is complex.
Nice visualization of the dynamics of political CO2 flatulence.
I don’t get how high altitudes, such as above Antarctica, can appear to be a “sink” when the surrounding air, and air below, appears to be at a constantly higher concentration. The reason why CO2 monitoring was selected at Mauna Loa was partly because altitude was supposed to eliminate low level inhomogeneities.
Pretty graphics, but something doesn’t add up.
Perhaps someone can check my vague recollection. I thought the well-mixed claim was introduced to prop up the the idea of a global average temperature.
“Why does this animation look completely different then the actual OCO-2 image?”
Keep the OCO2 satellite.
Fire the propagandist modelers.
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