Confused About CO2

A lot of people are totally confused about what CO2 is. Take this example from Joseph Palermo writing on the Huffington Post:

I live in the heart of California's largest valley. On a clear day I can see the majestic snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada. But on brown, sooty, smoggy days I can't even see past the horizon. Luckily, the local news tells us when we're having a bad smog day so the elderly know they should stay indoors. Not far from my home is the intersection of four major freeways, a perennial haze hovers over the elevated concrete interchanges. On hot days you cannot roll down your car window or you'll be overcome by the CO2 entering your lungs.

Here is someone who has no idea what CO2 looks like or what makes up air pollution. Carbon Dioxide is colorless and tasteless. You can verify this for yourself - just exhale. Except for cold days when the moisture in your breath condenses, you cannot see your breath. You can smell components of it (last night's garlic pizza) but not the CO2.

What Palermo is describing is a combination of ozone, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter (tiny specks). That's what makes up smog and what can be seen in large quantities.

It is not surprising that Palermo is confused. Al Gore and the news confused him. When they talk about CO2 emissions they show a graphic of a smokestack belching visible clouds. There might be some CO2 along with the smoke but you will never see it. But TV and PowerPoint presentations demand graphics so they show something visible.

For those who are not paying attention, this gives the impression that you can see the carbon dioxide building up.

As for being overcome by the CO2, that can't happen either, at least in the amounts found in California. You can test this one, also. Just breath into a paper bag for a while. It will not take long for the levels of CO2 in the bag to exceed anything found in California but you will not be overcome. You may calm down a bit. You might even cure the hiccups. If you put a tight plastic bag over your head you will eventually die, but from lack of oxygen, not from CO2.

So how can anyone have a rational conversation with Palermo when he misunderstands the basics?