Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere by various processes like respiration and burning of fossil fuels for energy, etc.

This gas is also emitted during volcanic eruptions. Carbon dioxide gas is normally found till troposphere. As the consumption of fossil fuels increases, a large amount of carbon dioxide gets released into the atmosphere. Excess of in the air is removed by green plants and this maintains an appropriate level of in the atmosphere. Green plants require for photosynthesis and they, in turn, emit oxygen, thus maintaining the delicate balance deforestation and burning of fossil fuel increases the level and disturb the balance in the atmosphere.

The increased amount of in the air is responsible for global warming. About75% of the solar energy reaching the earth is absorbed by the earth’s surface, which thereby increases the temperature. The rest of the heat radiates or reflects back in to the atmosphere. Some of the heat is trapped by gases such as , Methane, chlorofluorocarbon compounds (CFCs) and water vapour in the atmosphere.

Thus, they add to the heating of the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide molecules trap heat as they are transparent to sunlight but not to the heat radiation. If the amount of carbon dioxide crosses the delicate proportion of 0.03%, the natural greenhouse balance may get disturbed. Carbon dioxide is the major component which contributes to the global warming.