Tag: science & technology

Pre-industrial CO2 levels were around 280 ppm, and current levels are approximately 420 ppm, representing roughly a 50% increase. The claimed 36% is close to this figure given different measurement methodologies and baseline choices. CO2 levels have definitely increased significantly since the Industrial Revolution.

Carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor are all greenhouse gases that trap heat in Earth's atmosphere. Since all three individually are greenhouse gases, the correct answer is all of the above.

Earth's atmosphere is approximately 78% nitrogen by volume, making it the dominant gas. Oxygen is the second most abundant at about 21%, while carbon dioxide and methane are trace gases present in much smaller quantities.

Nephology is the branch of meteorology that deals with clouds - their formation, classification, and physical properties. The prefix 'nepho-' comes from the Greek word for cloud. This is distinct from neurology (study of the brain and nervous system) or cetology (study of whales).

Petrology is the branch of geology that studies the origin, composition, structure, and properties of rocks. The prefix 'petro-' comes from the Greek word for rock or stone. This is distinct from pedology (study of soils), zoology (study of animals), or ethology (animal behavior).

Biology comes from the Greek words 'bios' (life) and 'logos' (study of), literally meaning the study of life. It encompasses all living organisms including plants, animals, and microorganisms. While biology includes animal behavior, that's a specific subfield called ethology, not the entire discipline.

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior, encompassing conscious and unconscious phenomena, feelings, and thoughts. The word comes from Greek: 'psyche' (mind/soul) and 'logos' (study of). Physiology is the study of how organisms function normally, phytology (botany) studies plants, and pedology studies soils.

Conchology is the scientific study of shells, particularly mollusk shells. It's a branch of malacology (study of mollusks) that focuses specifically on shell structure, classification, and diversity.