A brief history of carbon in our atmosphere

The document outlines the history of Earth's atmosphere from its volcanic origins to the development of oxygen-emitting photosynthesis. It describes the carbon cycle as a balancing process between reservoirs—including the atmosphere, oceans, and plants—that maintains planetary stability. However, industrial activity over the last century has released carbon from the ground into the atmosphere at a rate 100 times faster than previous natural increases, raising average temperatures by 1.8°F (1.0°C) since the late 1800s. This disruption has led to increased storms, flooding, wildfires, and heatwaves, necessitating urgent emission reductions and the restoration of the carbon cycle.

• Earth's atmosphere evolved from volcanic gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor, eventually transitioning to an oxygen-rich environment through the photosynthesis of cyanobacteria over 2.4 billion years ago.
• The carbon cycle maintains planetary stability by balancing the amount of carbon naturally released from and stored in reservoirs, which include humans, plants, the ocean, and the atmosphere.
• Human reliance on fossil fuels for over a century has disrupted the carbon cycle, increasing the Earth's average temperature by 1.8°F (1.0°C) since the late 1800s.
• The rate of atmospheric carbon dioxide increase over the last 60 years is approximately 100 times faster than previous natural increases, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
• In 2022, fossil fuels accounted for approximately 60% of the electricity generated in the United States, contributing to the rise of CO2 in the atmosphere.

APA

WWF International (n.d.). A brief history of carbon in our atmosphere. https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/a-brief-history-of-carbon-in-our-atmosphere/

Chicago

WWF International. A brief history of carbon in our atmosphere. n.d. https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/a-brief-history-of-carbon-in-our-atmosphere/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=A brief history of carbon in our atmosphere |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/a-brief-history-of-carbon-in-our-atmosphere/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternationalndbrief, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{A brief history of carbon in our atmosphere}}, institution = {WWF International}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/a-brief-history-of-carbon-in-our-atmosphere/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }