What is the relationship between an increase in fossil fuel consumption and increased carbon in terrestrial plants? How might this change flora populations? What impact could twenty years at this level of consumption have on flora?

The increase in fossil fuel consumption and the increase in carbon content on flora is directly proportional to each other.

The carbon is the main component of the fossil fuels. The fossil fuels are composed of different length of hydrocarbon chains which are burnt to produce energy that helps in different day to day works.

Now with the industrial revolution and the increase in modern science, the consumption of fossil fuels have increased significantly. This leads to more emission of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which leads to the increased absorption of carbon dioxide from atmosphere. This leads to increased carbon content in plants.

If this continues, there will be a significant change in metabolic rate in the plants in the next 20 years where they will learn and adapt themselves with the environment with high levels of carbon dioxide. This will again establish the lost balance between the earth and her flora.