<p>Do the calculation for 1 mol of CO<span class="math-container">$_2$</span></p>
<p>1 mol of CO<span class="math-container">$_2$</span> weighs 49 grammes = 0.0049 kg</p>
<p>86400 seconds in a day, so 864000 * 0.0049 = 423.36 kg/day/m<span class="math-container">$^2$</span></p>
<p>The surface area of the globe is 5.1 x 10<span class="math-container">$^{14}$</span> m<span class="math-container">$^2$</span> - so 423.6 * 5.1 x 10<span class="math-container">$^{14}$</span> = 2.16 x 10<span class="math-container">$^{17}$</span> kg/day</p>
<p>Convert from kg to Megatons, 10<span class="math-container">$^9$</span> kg in a Megaton  - so we get 1 mol CO<span class="math-container">$_2$</span>/m<span class="math-container">$^2$</span>/second = 2.16 x 10<span class="math-container">$^8$</span> Megatons/day</p>
<p>This assumes, as farrenthorpe commented, that the molar emission rate represents a rate evenly distributed over the globe - if, for instance it only represented terrestrial emissions, or emissions in a particular region the calculation would need to take that into account.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-04T14:55:13.750Z
Thank you sir for explaining in detail. It helped out.
Farhan Mustafa
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-04T15:57:13.873Z
Farhan - happy to help out. I just edited my answer as I had made an error in units that changed the answer. I  missed conversion from square metres to square kilometres!
Andy M
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-04T14:42:16.257Z
2021-05-04T15:58:23.487Z
2021-05-04T15:58:23.487Z
Andy M
<p>I am working on the global CO<sub>2</sub> emission using a model dataset. The model provides the CO<sub>2</sub> emission in mol m<sup>-2</sup> s<sup>-1</sup>. How to convert mol m<sup>-2</sup> s<sup>-1</sup> CO<sub>2</sub> emission to Megaton day<sup>-1</sup> (Mt per day)?</p>
<p>Regards</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-04T14:22:24.433Z
You don't have enough information.  You have a flux rate, so without a defined area, you can't convert to daily emissions.  You can easily convert moles to Mt, and seconds to days, but you still need an area defined.
f.thorpe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-04T14:52:51.247Z
Thank you sir, your answer solved the problem. There was a global dataset, and the area was 510.1 million km².
Farhan Mustafa
<climate-models><co2><greenhouse-gases>
How to convert mol m-2 s-1 CO2 emission to Megaton day-1 (MtCO2 per day)?
Farhan Mustafa
# How to convert mol m-2 s-1 CO2 emission to Megaton day-1 (MtCO2 per day)?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-05-04)

I am working on the global CO2 emission using a model dataset. The model provides the CO2 emission in mol m-2 s-1. How to convert mol m-2 s-1 CO2 emission to Megaton day-1 (Mt per day)?

Regards

**Tags:** climate-models, co2, greenhouse-gases

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You don't have enough information.  You have a flux rate, so without a defined area, you can't convert to daily emissions.  You can easily convert moles to Mt, and seconds to days, but you still need an area defined.  
> **username_0**: Thank you sir, your answer solved the problem. There was a global dataset, and the area was 510.1 million km².  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-05-04. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Do the calculation for 1 mol of CO$\_2$

1 mol of CO$\_2$ weighs 49 grammes = 0.0049 kg

86400 seconds in a day, so 864000 \* 0.0049 = 423.36 kg/day/m$^2$

The surface area of the globe is 5.1 x 10$^{14}$ m$^2$ - so 423.6 \* 5.1 x 10$^{14}$ = 2.16 x 10$^{17}$ kg/day

Convert from kg to Megatons, 10$^9$ kg in a Megaton - so we get 1 mol CO$\_2$/m$^2$/second = 2.16 x 10$^8$ Megatons/day

This assumes, as farrenthorpe commented, that the molar emission rate represents a rate evenly distributed over the globe - if, for instance it only represented terrestrial emissions, or emissions in a particular region the calculation would need to take that into account.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you sir for explaining in detail. It helped out.  
> **username_2**: username_0 - happy to help out. I just edited my answer as I had made an error in units that changed the answer. I  missed conversion from square metres to square kilometres!  

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