Metrication MattersWe read a lot about the weight (I still like the term) of carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere by various activities, e.g., xyz causes abc tons of CO2, etc. I have often wondered what physical volume this represents. I once asked a scientific presenter the question, and he had no idea and thought the question rather odd.
But if one cubic meter of air weighs one kg, and CO2 is somewhat similar (I know it is heavier), then 10,000 tons (as reported in the US press) (4000 tonnes or metric tons) would fill a volume of 4,000,000 cu meters, or a cube of about 160 m on a side. Maybe the volume of a small gymnasium (50 x 30 x 20 m?) would be 30,000 cu m or 30,000 kg or 30 metric tons. Right, or did I drop or add a digit? HARRY WYETH
