Can anybody come up with a chart showing CO2 atmospheric
  concentrations
  as a function of altitude?

  CO2 is 150% of the density of air so it should sink to the
  ground.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide
  "At standard temperature and pressure, the density of
  carbon
  dioxide is around 1.98 kg/m³, about 1.5 times that of
  air."

  If you have a open top container of CO2 it will remain in
  the
  container until it is poured out like you would pour
  water.

  Paul Lamar

  Paul,
  There is essentially no difference in the concentration of
  CO2 with
  altitude. The difference in density is overwhelmed by the
  convection
  currents (thunderstorms and wind). Yes, a container of co2
  will sit (for a
  while) in a quiescent situation, but molecular diffusion
  will gradually
  cause the gas to mix with the surrounding air.


  Bill Schertz
  KIS Cruiser #4045
  N343BS
  Phase I testing

  Has anybody measured this? Are there any references ?


  Paul Lamar

If the denser CO2 gas molecules did not mix as Bill S. indicated
and actually concentrated and settled at the bottom of the atmosphere
(ground level) then every living creature that breathes O2 in low
level areas such as the Coachella Valley and Indio, CA which are
below sea level, would be dead from lack of oxygen to breath.

Joel

Indio is 13 feet above sea level.

It depends on where this 350 to 450 PP million
was measured. Maybe some parts of the earth the concentration is lower.
As far as I can tell they only measured these numbers in one or two places.
What is it in the middle of the Pacific Ocean at sea level?

Surely there must be some sort of concentration gradient.
What is the concentration of CO2 say in Death Valley as
opposed to the top of Mount Whitney?

I lived in a narrow Canyon near LA that had bumper to bumper
idling cars and no wind at rush 3 hours for many years.
Why am I still alive? I will say the vegetation grew very fast.

What instrument is used to measure the CO2 concentration?

---------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.wapa.gov/es/pubs/techbrf/co2.htm

"Carbon dioxide is a natural component of the air on this planet.
The amount of CO2 in a given air sample is commonly expressed as
parts-per-million (ppm)-the number of molecules of carbon dioxide
per million molecules. The outdoor air in most locations contains
about 350 ppm carbon dioxide. Higher outdoor CO2 concentrations
can be found near vehicle traffic areas, industry, and sources of
combustion."

"Where indoor concentrations are elevated (compared to the outside air)
the source is usually the building's occupants. People exhale carbon
dioxide-the average adult's breath contains about 35,000 to 50,000 ppm
of CO2 (100 times higher than outdoor air). Without adequate ventilation
to dilute and remove the CO2 continuously generated by the occupants,
CO2 can accumulate."

"The concentrations of CO2 found in most schools and offices are
usually well below the 5,000 ppm occupational safety standard
(time-weighted average for a 10-hour workday within a 40-hour
workweek) for an industrial workplace. While levels below 5,000 ppm
are considered to pose no serious health impacts, experience
indicates that individuals in schools and offices with elevated
CO2 concentrations tend to report drowsiness, lethargy, and a
general sense of stale air. Researchers are looking for linkages
between elevated CO2 concentrations and reduced productivity
and achievement."

Paul Lamar


This is an interesting topic.  I was under the impression that
atmospheric gas was a solution, not a mixture; like water and
alcohol vs. water and oil.
Decker, Michael

I think it is a solution when the weight or density of the gases
is near the same. IMHO that is not true in the case of CO2.

I have seen a physics demo where the professor has a flask
of CO2 with no stopper on it. He lights a candle in a shallow container
on the table and then proceeds to "pour" the carbon dioxide on the candle
and it goes out.

Paul Lamar