The Runaway Effect

The Hothouse Effect

Greenhouse Effect

Plant and calcareous shells and other parts of marine organisms are buried and form sedimentary rocks through lithification and diagenesis where carbon is stored in the rocks for millions-billions of years.

Silicate-mineral weathering converts atmospheric carbon dioxide to dissolved bicarbonate, which is stored in the oceans for thousands to tens of thousands of years.

Carbon-bearing sediments are transferred by subduction to the mantle, where the carbon may be stored for tens of millions to billions of years.

Living organisms consume carbon dioxide from atmosphere through photosynthesis and take that carbon to make their tissues and substances.

Carbon dioxide from within the Earth is released back to the atmosphere during volcanic eruptions, where it is stored for years to decades.

Global mean temperatures and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations covary. 

Today’s carbon dioxide concentrations are the highest they have ever been in the past 400,000 years.

Except for the last 50 years, carbon dioxide concentrations have gone above 320ppm more than once.

Carbon dioxide records generally show gradual decreases and sharp increases in concentrations  

a greenhouse effect.

an albedo effect.

a positive feedback mechanism.

a negative feedback mechanism.

Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

Global cooling in the Cenozoic to the present

Precambrian glaciations 

Younger Dryas 

1°C

8°C

4°C

2°C

chemistry of igneous rock layers

chemistry of gases trapped in ice cores 

isotope ratios from shells of microfossils in deep-sea sediment

fossils

proxy indicators

patterns

stable isotopes

index fossils

Isotopes of nitrogen clearly fingerprint fossil fuel burning as being responsible.

Isotopes of carbon clearly fingerprint fossil fuel burning as being responsible.

We don't have evidence to prove or disprove this.

Isotopes of oxygen clearly fingerprint fossil fuel burning as being responsible.

Sediment Cores from deep ocean

Tree Rings

Ice cores

Coral cores