Computer model of carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere, over a year. The model reveals striking changes in the CO2 levels over a year, and the huge difference between the northern and southern hemisphere. CO2 levels are highest (red) just after the northern winter, due to more fuels being burnt for heat, and also due to the lack of photosynthesising vegetation. In the summer, the situation reverses: less fuel is burnt, and plant growth absorbs huge amounts of CO2. The movement of CO2 from the major industrial centres of the US, Europe and eastern Asia is seen to be largely eastwards, but turbulent flow quickly distributes the gas across the region. This model was created at ultra high resolution as part of a simulation called a âNature Run.â The Nature Run ingested real data on atmospheric conditions and the emission of greenhouse gases, and both natural and man-made particulates. The model was then left to run on its own, and simulated the natural behavior of the Earthâs atmosphere. This Nature Run simulates January 2006 through December 2006. |