The purpose of estimating pre-industrial carbon mass in the atmosphere is to gain a better understanding of the natural baseline levels of carbon in the atmosphere before human activities began significantly impacting the Earth's carbon cycle. This can help inform our understanding of the current and future effects of human-caused carbon emissions on the Earth's climate.
Pre-industrial carbon mass in the atmosphere is estimated through a calculation called the GTC (Gigatonnes of Carbon) calculation. This calculation takes into account various data on historical carbon emissions, land use changes, and carbon sinks to estimate the amount of carbon that would have been in the Earth's atmosphere if there had been no human interference.
The data needed for the GTC calculation includes historical records of human activities that release or absorb carbon, such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation, as well as data on natural processes that impact the Earth's carbon cycle, such as volcanic eruptions and oceanic absorption of carbon. This data is then used to create a model that estimates pre-industrial carbon mass in the atmosphere.
Estimating pre-industrial carbon mass in the atmosphere is a complex process that relies on various data and assumptions. As such, there are limitations to the accuracy of the estimates. Some factors that can impact the accuracy of the estimates include incomplete or inaccurate data, uncertainties in historical records, and the dynamic nature of the Earth's carbon cycle.
Estimating pre-industrial carbon mass can provide a baseline for understanding the natural levels of carbon in the atmosphere and how they have been impacted by human activities. This information can then be used to inform climate change research and help predict the future effects of human-caused carbon emissions on the Earth's climate. It can also aid in developing strategies for reducing and mitigating the effects of climate change.