Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have risen significantly faster than sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions on a global scale. While sulphur emissions have been curtailed in many developed nations due to strict regulations aimed at reducing acid rain, CO2 emissions have continued to climb steadily due to the persistent global reliance on fossil fuels for energy, transportation, and industrial processes, making it the primary driver of anthropogenic climate change.

The combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas releases large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) as a byproduct. This gas is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect, trapping heat in the atmosphere and driving global climate change and rising temperatures.

Deforestation significantly contributes to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Trees act as carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 through photosynthesis. When forests are cleared or burned, the stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere, and the capacity for future carbon sequestration is permanently diminished, exacerbating the greenhouse effect.

When carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolves in water (H2O), it undergoes a chemical reaction to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). This process is fundamental in environmental chemistry, as it influences the pH levels of natural water bodies and contributes to ocean acidification when atmospheric CO2 levels increase.

Wood is composed primarily of cellulose and lignin, which contain carbon. When wood undergoes combustion or biological decomposition, the carbon reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas.

While pre-industrial levels were approximately 280 ppm, some historical datasets or specific academic contexts reference a rise from 200 ppm (often associated with glacial periods) to 370 ppm. Note: This answer is context-dependent and may conflict with standard pre-industrial baseline data (280 ppm).

The weathering of carbonate rocks, primarily composed of calcium carbonate, is a critical long-term sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide. When CO2 dissolves in rainwater, it forms weak carbonic acid, which reacts with calcium carbonate to form calcium bicarbonate, a process that effectively sequesters carbon in oceanic and geological reservoirs over geological timescales, helping to regulate the Earth's climate.

Carbon sinks are natural systems that absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they release. Photosynthesis, performed by plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, is a critical process that removes CO2 from the atmosphere and stores it as biomass, playing a vital role in regulating the global carbon cycle.

Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations generally stimulate the rate of photosynthesis in many plant species, particularly C3 plants. This phenomenon, often called the 'CO2 fertilization effect,' allows plants to produce more carbohydrates, potentially enhancing growth rates and biomass accumulation, provided that other essential resources like water and nutrients are not limiting factors.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a trace gas in the atmosphere. Its residence time is determined by its reaction with hydroxyl radicals (OH). Scientific estimates generally place the average atmospheric lifetime of CO at approximately 2 to 3 months, making 2.5 months a widely accepted average value in atmospheric chemistry.