Carbon Dioxide in Earth's Atmosphere - Current Concentration

Current Concentration

In 2009, the CO2 global average concentration in Earth's atmosphere was about 0.0387%, or 387 parts per million. There is an annual fluctuation of about 3–9 ppmv which roughly follows the Northern Hemisphere's growing season. The Northern Hemisphere dominates the annual cycle of CO2 concentration because it has much greater land area and plant biomass than the Southern Hemisphere. Concentrations peak in May as the Northern Hemisphere spring greenup begins and reach a minimum in October when the quantity of biomass undergoing photosynthesis is greatest.

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