Carbon dioxide

1

The atmosphere contains about 0.03% carbon dioxide. This figure can’t be fully relied on. Additional carbon dioxide is being poured into the atmosphere all of the time. All animals have been found to exhale carbon dioxide, it having been produced by the oxidation of carbon compounds in their tissues. Carbon dioxide is also produced by the burning of wood and coal and the slow decay of plant and animal remains.

This is a great threat. The problem has been much spoken of by many scientists. Carbon dioxide is taken from the air by the plants, and it is broken down into carbon and free oxygen, it being liberated into the air.

Some of the plants are burnt or are oxidized during the process of decay. The decay is followed by the return of carbon to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

2

Every year there are changes in climate in different parts of the world. Some of these changes are due to natural causes. However, some climatic changes are caused by air pollution and these changes may increase. One kind of pollution results from burning oil and coal in transport and in factories.

If the pollution affects the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the results are likely to be serious. Carbon dioxide constitutes only a small part of the atmosphere. But it has an important function in maintaining the balance between radiation from the sun entering the atmosphere and radiation leaving the Earth. Some of the radiation is absorbed by the Earth and some is radiated back into the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide in the atmosphere prevents some of the radiation from leaving the atmosphere. Thus, the heat remains in the atmosphere and carbon dioxide helps the temperature of the Earth from falling.

If the proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increased as a result of air pollution, the temperature of the atmosphere may rise. This might eventually cause the ice in the north and the south poles to melt. If this happened, the sea level would rise and parts of the Earth would be flooded. The possibility of this

happening exists.

There is also a fairly strong possibility that the dust level in the atmosphere will rise as a result of industrial pollution. This dust pollution will reflect sunlight back into space. If this happens, less sunlight will reach the Earth and the temperature will fall.

2. Make sure if you remember the meaning of the following words. Consult a dictionary if necessary:

To rely, to pour, to exhale, tissues, decay, remains, threat, to constitute, to prevent, eventually, happening.

3. Answer the questions:

1. What is the approximate percentage by volume of carbon dioxide in the air?

2. How does the flow of carbon dioxide into and out of the atmosphere take place?

3. How does the burning of fossil fuels affect the carbon cycle?

4. Is the earth’s climate affected by the level of carbon dioxide in the air?

5. What kind of climatic changes may occur if the proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increased as a result of air pollution?

4. Give three structural types (“noun + gerund”, “noun + noun”, “noun + of + noun”) of English equivalents for the following word combinations.

Model: визначення температури: temperature determining,

temperature determination,

determination of temperature.

Спалення вугілля, визначення кількості, встановлення рівноваги, проведення дослідження, накопичення пестицидів, охолодження розчину, нагрівання рідини.

5. The processes which take carbon dioxide out of the air and the processes which put carbon dioxide into the air are delicately balanced. This natural balance is being disturbed by the massive quantities of carbon dioxide that we send into the air by the combustion of coal and oil. Describe some of the effects of this pollution.

GRAMMAR STUDY