The Current Status of Carbon Energetics

The thermal state of the Earth and global processes occurring in the atmosphere and on the surface are analyzed on the basis of data from scientific centers and the results of long-term scientific projects. The analysis is performed in the form of numerical values and estimates, and from this a physical picture of global processes involving carbon and carbon dioxide is constructed. It is shown that the greenhouse effect due to anthropogenic carbon dioxide injected into the atmosphere is not the main reason for an increase in global temperature observed in recent decades, which, in turn, is small compared to changes in the past. An increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere at its current values does not affect human health but increases the efficiency of photosynthesis, so that it caused an increase of crop yields by one and a half times during the industrial period. The depletion of resources of fossil gas and oil in this century makes it urgent to produce synthetic liquid and gaseous fuels from coal. It is shown that replacing methane as a fuel with hydrogen, along with low efficiency, also leads to high risks in mass use.