environmentaide.org » carbon dioxide

Greenhouse, and Other Gases Of Concern

reginald cottle — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:41:04 +0000

1. Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)

“Since about the year 1750 according to analysis of ice core samples we have been tipping a balance that stood for 10,000 years, or since the last ice age. Without any CO₂in our atmosphere the planet would freeze. The concentration that has allowed life as we’ve known it to flourish is between 260 and 280 parts per million. We are now taking that number higher.”¹ The global mean mixing ratio reached a new high of 381.5 ppm in 2007, representing an increase of 2.15 ppm over the previous year. This ratio corresponds to 146.7% of the lower and 136.25% of the higher range pre-industrial level. The global growth rate varies significantly annually, and was 2.0 ppm/year on average for the 10-year period from 1998-2007. An El Niño event will amplify the yearly effect. A large enough volcanic event by increasing atmospheric dust and reducing sunlight reaching the Earths surface, will create negative values. Our atmospheric contains levels of CO₂ that account for over 80% of global warming pollution. Today’s levels are higher than at any time in the past 420,000 years. It’s no insignificant fact that the 10 warmest years globally since 1856 have occurred in the last 15 years. Everything CO₂ based, (coal, oil, gas) adds to the man made problem of global warming. Industrialized use of, (coal, oil, gas) in western countries contributes to 97% of their CO₂ contributions.

That’s about 800 tons a second or 25 billion tons a year.

2. Methane (CH₄)

CH₄ is the second most significant greenhouse gas; its level has increased since the beginning of the 19th century. The 2003-2004 global mean mixing ratio was 255% of the pre-industrial level. The 2002/2003 El Niño event and other events like it created spikes in yearly variations. There are large deposits of CH₄ frozen in the ocean floor. Scientists estimate a rise in global ocean temperatures of four degrees will begin a release of the ocean bed CH_4. Methane is explosive and as a greenhouse gas 26 times more potent than CO₂. If you release enough of the frozen or trapped global CH₄ into the atmosphere a possible lightning strike over a city blanketed by a Methane concentration could be more devastating than a nuclear bomb. As the tundra in arctic regions thaws vast amounts of CH₄ are being released. In tropical regions dam project reservoirs produce CH₄. the hotter the year the more CH₄ is produced. Capture strategies for further energy production are being studied. Dovetailing efforts into slowing the need for new usage strategies sounds like a better first step.

3. Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)

A stratospheric regulator of ozone, this gas has 298 times more impact when considered over a 100-year period, than CO₂_.The direct human activity of agriculture, nitrogen fertilizers, and waste from animal husbandry, and industrial sources accounts for little more than 13%. Bacteria in the soil is responsible for most of the (N₂O). Despite low concentration (N₂O) follows carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapour as the fourth largest contributor to global warming and is one of the major gases. Control protocols are being formulated to curb greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.

4. Halocarbons

Halocarbons where found to be responsible for the depletion of the ozone level and where replaced under the Montreal Protocol with HCFCs. CFC-11 started decreasing around 1992. CFC-12 growth has almost stopped. CFC-113 growth stopped in the early 1990s and is decreasing slowly. CH₃CCl₃ Peaked around 1992 and is now decreasing. HCFCs (the industrial replacements of CFCs) are increasing at a rapid rate. We now know, Although HCFCs do not deplete the ozone layer they are a contributor to global warming.

5. Surface Ozone (O₃)

Some of the O₃ in the troposphere comes from the stratosphere; the rest is chemically produced in the troposphere through oxidation of CO or hydrocarbons in the presence of rich NOx. Seasonal and inter-annual global trends are hard to identify. Through radiating and chemical processes it absorbs UV radiation in the stratosphere, creates a temperature profile and with its absorbed energy circulates the atmosphere. Because it also absorbs IR radiation it is also a greenhouse gas.

6. Carbon Monoxide (CO)

It is not a greenhouse gas yet affects greenhouse gases by affecting hydroxyl radicals (OH). Mixing ratios have been increasing since the mid 19^th Century. Seasonal cycles are driven by biomass burning, industrial emissions, world transportation fuel use, and seasonal changes in OH.

7. Nitrogen Monoxide (NO) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂)

Nitrogen oxides (NOx, i.e. NO and NO₂) are not greenhouse gases; yet affect greenhouse gases by affecting OH. In the presence of NOx, CO and hydrocarbons are oxidized to produce ozone (O₃), which affects the Earth’s radiating balance as a greenhouse gas and the oxidization capacity of the atmosphere by reproducing OH. NOx has large temporal and geographic variability, and it is difficult to identify a long-term trend.

8. Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂)

Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) is not a greenhouse gas but a precursor of atmospheric sulphate (H₂SO₄) aerosol. Produced by SO2 oxidation through photochemical gas-to-particle conversion we get sulphate aerosol. SO₂ has also been a major source of acid rain throughout industrial times.

Reginald Cottle: The Burden of Climate Responsibility ↩

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The Burden of Climate Responsibility…

reginald cottle — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:13:19 +0000

When you take the time to consider all the variables, you might consider the fact we even exist is a miracle.

Think about it. Consider how we stack up as a species in the billions of years of material existence. The advent of man among all other life forms is but a moment.

I look at it, as a human existence is a mere spark in time.

For us living as that spark can seem a long time. We perpetuate a lot of change in the course of a single lifetime.

We have advanced from hunters and gatherers to an agrarian, then industrial, and now information age. We now possess intelligence so potent that we could destroy ourselves as a whole if we loose sight of the dignity of human life.

But isn’t that what many of our kind do everyday in the quest for happiness.

We have created sciences that we have dedicated to our search for the ultimate sense gratification without understanding their long-term effects on our universal partner, the earth.

Everyday we encroach on the laws of nature for our own ends. Currently we release a wide range of gases called greenhouse gases that get trapped in our atmosphere and cause the planet to warm. Most of the population is aware of carbon dioxide CO_2. It is the end result of our using fossil fuels. What many people don’t know is that CO₂is only one of the potentially dangerous gases.

Since about the year 1750 according to analysis of ice core samples we have been tipping a balance that stood for 10,000 years, or since the last ice age. Without any CO₂in our atmosphere the planet would freeze. The concentration that has allowed life as we’ve known it to flourish is between 260 and 280 parts per million. We are now taking that number higher.

In an attempt at more accurate dating, its worth noting that William Murdoch, an employee of Boulton and Watt is thought to have invented; and the irony is not lost on the name; the sun and planet gear also called the planet and sun gear patented by James Watt in October 1781. It played an important part in the development of devices for rotative motion in the Industrial Revolution. With the introduction of the sun and planet, planetary gearing became possible and devices like the locomotive, steam engine and steamship became possible, precipitating the rapid advancement of the industrial revolution.

The major greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and three groups of fluorinated gases, sulfur hexafluoride, HFCs, and PFCs . Today these gases are the subjects of the Kyoto Protocol to the International Framework Convention on Climate Change. The protocol was established with the objective of reducing greenhouse gases that cause climate change. The scope of the protocol and the fact we continue to create more destructive sources without disposal solutions is a paramount concern.

A BBC World Service report recently brought to light that there is now evidence that the booming demand for flat-screen televisions could have a greater impact on global warming than the world’s largest coal-fired power stations. The gas used is greenhouse gas nitrogen trifluoride, a gas 17000 times more potent than carbon dioxide. At this time there is no protocol that encompasses this gas, or its disposal.

As far as the Kyoto protocol is concerned it was adopted on December 11^th 1997 by the 3rd Conference of the Parties, meeting in Kyoto, it entered into force on February 16^th 2005. As of May 2008, 182 parties have ratified the protocol. Of these, 36 developed cg countries (plus the EU as a party in its own right) are required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the levels specified for each of them in the treaty (representing over 61.6% of emissions from Annex I countries), with three more countries intending to participate. One hundred thirty-seven (137) developing countries have ratified the protocol, including China, India, and Brazil, who among the others have no obligation beyond monitoring and reporting emissions. The United States one of the largest and most serious contributors to carbon dioxide CO₂fossil fuel pollution that causesglobal warming, has not ratified the treaty or shown any sincerity in doing so.

Note, China’s unparalleled recent growth, set to eclipse all developing nations, has only monitoring and reporting obligations. Among various experts, scientists, and critics, the protocol is questionable. There is an ongoing debate about it’s usefulness.

Clearly consensus about the urgency for action, seriousness of the situation, and need for unified concerted effort on the part of all developing nations is lacking.

Based on the tangible and scientific evidence and the need for affirmative action, is it not time to stop asking for co-operation, rather mandating a course of action that applies to all. A Universal Declaration of Nature’s Rights defendable by law, overseen by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and The International Court of Justice. Including the founding of an oversight committee to monitor world developments. Ensuring all the math and contingencies are considered before development or change takes place.

Thus insuring for future generations a healthy wholesome environment.

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environmentaide.org » carbon dioxide

Greenhouse, and Other Gases Of Concern

It is not a greenhouse gas yet affects greenhouse gases by affecting hydroxyl radicals (OH). Mixing ratios have been increasing since the mid 19^th Century. Seasonal cycles are driven by biomass burning, industrial emissions, world transportation fuel use, and seasonal changes in OH.

Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) is not a greenhouse gas but a precursor of atmospheric sulphate (H₂SO₄) aerosol. Produced by SO2 oxidation through photochemical gas-to-particle conversion we get sulphate aerosol. SO₂ has also been a major source of acid rain throughout industrial times.

Related Posts B

The Burden of Climate Responsibility…

Related Posts B

environmentaide.org » carbon dioxide

Greenhouse, and Other Gases Of Concern

It is not a greenhouse gas yet affects greenhouse gases by affecting hydroxyl radicals (OH). Mixing ratios have been increasing since the mid 19th Century. Seasonal cycles are driven by biomass burning, industrial emissions, world transportation fuel use, and seasonal changes in OH.

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is not a greenhouse gas but a precursor of atmospheric sulphate (H2SO4) aerosol. Produced by SO2 oxidation through photochemical gas-to-particle conversion we get sulphate aerosol. SO2 has also been a major source of acid rain throughout industrial times.

Related Posts B

The Burden of Climate Responsibility…

Related Posts B

It is not a greenhouse gas yet affects greenhouse gases by affecting hydroxyl radicals (OH). Mixing ratios have been increasing since the mid 19^th Century. Seasonal cycles are driven by biomass burning, industrial emissions, world transportation fuel use, and seasonal changes in OH.

Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) is not a greenhouse gas but a precursor of atmospheric sulphate (H₂SO₄) aerosol. Produced by SO2 oxidation through photochemical gas-to-particle conversion we get sulphate aerosol. SO₂ has also been a major source of acid rain throughout industrial times.