HACKER Q&A
📣 nkkollaw

Now that CO2 levels are down, can we see if CO2 causes global warming?


The Chinese virus caused an almost complete stop of all activities, at a level that would be impossible to achieve in a normal situation.

It's already been noticed that CO2 levels have decreased significantly.

Will we be able to observe temps and see if there is definitely a relation between CO2 and global warming, or will this not be possible?

I would think that this is a one-time opportunity.

  👤 Someone Accepted Answer ✓
CO2 stays in the atmosphere for centuries (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/38136820_Atmospheri..., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_in_Earth%27s_at...), so a temporary decrease or even a temporary stop will not make much of a dent.

I’m sure we will see papers on this, though, just as we saw them after 9/11.

Also “if CO2 causes global warming”? I thought that has been established; even the starkest deniers only debate whether human contributions to CO2 emissions make much of an impact.

👤 chewz
> It's already been noticed that CO2 levels have decreased significantly

I think CO emissions decreased not CO levels.. So we wont see decreassing temperatures right away..