Story: Atmosphere

Carbon dioxide pollution

Carbon dioxide pollution

The most common greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide, which is released during the burning of fossil fuels – such as driving a petrol-powered car. Burning forests (to use the land for crops or pasture) also adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is invisible, but when fuels are burned, soot and nitrogen dioxide are also produced. Together they account for the brown haze associated with urban pollution.

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New Zealand Herald
Reference: New Zealand Herald, 4 May 2005
Photograph by Paul Estcourt

Permission of the New Zealand Herald must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Bill Allan, Katja Riedel, Richard McKenzie, Sylvia Nichol and Tom Clarkson, 'Atmosphere - Greenhouse gases', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/6143/carbon-dioxide-pollution (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Bill Allan, Katja Riedel, Richard McKenzie, Sylvia Nichol and Tom Clarkson, published 12 Jun 2006