Humans have altered CO2 additions to the atmospheric CO2 pool only as a result of fossil fuel burning.

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The statement to evaluate is: 'Humans have altered CO2 additions to the atmospheric CO2 pool only as a result of fossil fuel burning.'

Option 1 (True): This claim asserts that human alterations to atmospheric CO2 come exclusively from fossil fuel burning. While fossil fuels are a major source of anthropogenic CO2, this option is incomplete because other human activities also modify the atmospheric CO2 pool. For example, cement production releases significant CO2, and land-use changes (deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural practices) alter the carbon cycle by reducing the landscape’s capacity to absorb CO2 and by releasing stored carbon. Additionally, there are natural processes and feedbacks that interact with human activity, such as changes in ocean uptake and land carbon sinks, which can be influenced by human activities. Therefore, attributing all alterations solely to fossil fuel burning omits important contributing sources and mechanisms, making this statement inaccurate.

Option 2 (False): This option states that humans have not altered CO2 additions to the atmospheric pool only due to fossil fuel burning. This is correct because human impacts on atmospheric CO2 arise from multiple sources beyond burning fossil fuels, including cement production and land-use changes, as well as broader disruptions to carbon sinks. The carbon cycle is affected by more than just combustion, so the statement is incorrect in asserting exclusivity to fossil fuels. The nuance here is recognizing the diversity of anthropogenic CO2 sources and the role of carbon sinks and natural processes that interact with human activities.

BIOLOGY 1114.01 SP2025 (17927) Weekly Review 11 (comm eco, global warming)

Humans have altered CO2 additions to the atmospheric CO2 pool only as a result of fossil fuel burning.

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