Final Thoughts

In conclusion to this investigation, these points have been made supporting our theory on why carbon dioxide is building up in our atmosphere.

1) The industrial revolution began in 1760, as the threat of global warming only began in the last 100 years. The times for each do not match up, as deforestation on planet earth began immensely in the beginning of the 20th century, this matches the threat time of global warming.

2)Trees act as one of the few carbon sinks on planet earth, it is obvious that the elimination of this carbon sink is on the rise, the trend of carbon dioxide increase in our atmosphere is on the rise as well.

3)Humans do not emit near as much carbon dioxide as the earth itself. We are only responsible for 9 tons of carbon dioxide entering our atmosphere each year. So global warming cannot be caused by human pollution.

4)The study of Brazils amazon and the study of greenhouse emissions in Brazil do have a pattern, as Brazil has 48% of the worlds deforestation, the carbon dioxide in the air is also on the rise, therefore proving that the lack of carbon sinks in Brazil is affecting the atmosphere.

The connection is that humans, take down trees in our forests, for example, to make room for more housing because the human population is getting larger everyday. This removal of trees then eliminates carbon sinks, which gets rid of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere becuase of the process called photostnthesis. This process takes sunlight energy, water and carbon dioxide and turns it into oxygen and charbohydrates. This process makes trees, carbon sinks. Now that there is a lack of trees, carbon dioxide can buildup in our atmosphere. The carbon dioxide building up in our atmosphere comes from many things, but for example, humans drive their cars and release carbon dioxide right into the atmosphere. This carbon dioxide then sits in the atmosphere, then sunlgith comes down to the earth as UV rays, some is reflected because of different albedo's on earth, and some is absorbed by the earth. The UV rays that are reflected into outer space as infared rays. When the infared rays hit our atmosphere they then collide with the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide absorbs the infared rays and then re-emits it in all directions. Some rays going to space and some coming back down to earth. This then causes the warming in the earth.

In conclusion, at the end of this investigation it is believed that the hypothesis posed at the beginning, "Deforestation is the main cause of global carbon dioxide increase". The points above prove this theory correct and also prove the theory of "consumption of fossil fuels result in atmosphere carbon dioxide increases".