TABULA/samples/cost to capture atmospheric CO2

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cost to capture atmospheric CO2
    ┌   {1}       28.96 g/mol        molecular weight of air=
    │ ┌ {2}          80 ppm          CO2 increase since 1960
    │ ├ {3}      44.009 g/mol        molecular weight of CO2=
    ├ └>{4}       0.004 g/mol        wt contribution of CO2
    └>┌ {5}       0.012 %            % by wt of CO2
      ├ {6}      5.2E18 kg           wt of atmosphere
┌ ┌ ┌ └>{7}    6.322E11 t            wt of CO2 in atmosphere
│ │ └>  {8}     185.933 Gelephant    ={7}
│ └>    {9}     464.833 wt.humanity  ={7}
├       {10}        100 USD/t        cost to capture CO2
└>    ┌ {11}     63.217 TUSD         cost to restore 1960 CO2
      ├ {12}        1.1 TUSD         (est)USA deficit/FY2020
      └>{13}      57.47 /            How many times bigger?

Rationale

Carbon capture appears to be a promising way to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration in the atmosphere without impacting oil company assets or profits.

The annual average CO₂ concentration has been rising steadily since 1960, when it first began to be measured regularly at Mauna Loa, HI, when it stood at <320 ppm (parts-per-million).

This year (2019) it stands at >400 ppm, an increase of over 80 ppm.

Atmospheric carbon is deemed by many scientists to be having a damaging effect on the world's climate.

Recently a British Columbia-based firm built a prototype carbon dioxide extractor which they announced could capture CO₂ at a cost of $100 per metric ton (100 USD/t).

Although the cost can be expected to come down in years to come, it is instructive to estimate the total cost (at today's prices) of extracting enough CO₂ to restore atmospheric concentration to 1960s levels, i.e. to lower the concentration by 80 ppm.

This t-table estimates the weight of the CO₂ increase since 1960 at 632.2 billion metric tons, and the cost of capturing it to be around 57 times next year's projected USA budget deficit.

The t-table also shows 632.2 billion metric tons (item {7} – 6.322E11 t) to be roughly 186 billion African elephants, or 465 times the total weight of living human bodies.

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