Answer. It is an essential gas for plants as O2 is essential for animals. Plants consume CO2 in photosynthesis process and produce O2.While animals use O2 in respiration and give out CO2. In this way a natural balance exists between these essential gases as represented here.
6O:
But this balance is being disturbed by emitting more and more CO2 in air through different human activities. It traps some of the infrared radiations emitted by the Earth. Hence, increased concentration of CO2 layer absorbs the infrared radiations emitted by the Earth's surface and prevents heat energy escaping from the atmosphere. It helps to stop surface, from cooling down during night. As the concentration of CO2 in air increases, less heat energy is lost from the atmosphere as shown in figure.
The natural process of heat going out.
The increased concentration of
CO, due to human activities
results in trapping of heat
causes green house effect.
Greenhouse effect
Therefore, the average temperature of the atmosphere gradually increases. Greater is amount of CO2, more is trapping of heat or warming.
It is alarming because it has the following harmful effects:
(i) Accumulation of carbon dioxide in air is resulting in increasing atmospheric temperature about 0.05 °C every year.
(ii) It is causing major changes in atmospheric circulation resulting in changing weather patterns. Extreme weather events are occurring more commonly and intensely than previously,
(iii) It melts glaciers and snow caps that are increasing flood risks and intense tropical cyclones.
(iv) Sea-level is rising due to which low lying areas are liable to be submerged, turning previously populated areas no longer habitable