THE LEGEND OF CARBON DIOXIDE HEAVINESS

摘要

The false legend of carbon dioxide traps resulting from the weight of carbondioxide gas is disproved. In spite of water-vapor lightness in comparison with air, nowater-vapor trap exists on cave ceilings. In fact, underground atmospheres with specificcompositions are not related to gravity, but to the absence of any air movement aroundthe gas sources. The process of double diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide duringorganic compound decomposition in still air is shown to be significant. Thisphenomenon can form atmospheres that are deadly due to oxygen deficiencies andpoisonous because of excess carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide storage behaves like a liquidand can flow or can be poured, as cold air can, but these are typical transient processeswith no relation to a cave's foul air formation.