Answer to Question #139331 in General Chemistry for Javier

Question

Determine whether the following scenario in the earth system represents a positive or negative feedback or response compared to the initial situation.

increased atmospheric carbon dioxide causes increased plant growth which removes carbon dioxide and cools the atmosphere.

Answer 1

Temperature of the atmosphere depends on many factors. From one side the increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide causes the increase of plant growth which removes carbon dioxide. But plants remove only 25 percent of the carbon dioxide that humans put into the atmosphere. So the temperarute increase due to the carbon dioxide will prevail even if plant growth will increase. You can find more details here: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/CarbonCycle/page5.php