Estimating Pre-Industrial Carbon Mass in Atmosphere: GTC Calculation

[bbowers]

Homework Statement

Estimate the total mass of carbon (in billion metric tons, GTC) in the pre-industrial atmosphere with 280 ppm CO2.

Total mass of Earth's atmosphere = 5.4x10^18 kg

Homework Equations

1 GTC = 3.67 GTCO2

1 ppm = 44 AMU/ 26x10^6 AMU

The Attempt at a Solution

44 AMU/29x10^-6 AMU = 1 ppm CO2 = 1.52x10^-6

(1.52x10^-6)(280) = 4.26x10^-4

4.26x10^4 / 3.67 = 1.16x10^-4

 

[Chestermiller]

Hi Bbowers. Welcome to Physics Forums!

Based on the total mass of the Earth's atmosphere, how many kg moles air are there (assuming that the average molecular mass of air is 29)? If there are 280 kg moles of CO2 per million kg moles of air, how many kg moles of CO2 are there? If the molecular mass of CO2 is 44, how many kg of CO2 are there? How many billion kg?

Chet