Assignment 4 ESS Analysis E>B Planting trees will reduce the carbon dioxide level in an urban area. How many trees and in what concentration would need to be planted to make an impact on the CO2 level in an urban area? Forests play an important an important role in climate change. The destruction and degradation of forests contributes to the problem through the release of CO2. But the planting of new forests can help mitigate against climate change by removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Combined with the sun's energy, the captured carbon is converted into trunks, branches, roots and leaves via the process of photosynthesis. It is stored in this "biomass" until being returned back into the atmosphere, whether through natural processes or human interference, thus completing the carbon cycle. Under certain conditions plantations can grow relatively fast, thus absorbing CO2 at higher rates than natural forests. In the absence of major disturbances, newly planted or regenerating forests can continue to absorb carbon for 20–50 years or more. In comparison to preventing the loss of natural forests, however, tree planting has the potential to make only a limited contribution to reducing CO2 levels in the atmosphere. In 2000, the IPCC gathered the available evidence for a special report which concluded that tree-planting could sequester (remove from the atmosphere) around 1.1–1.6 GT of CO2 per year. That compares to total global greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 50 GT of CO2 in 2004. Some tree-planting projects established to absorb CO2 have turned out to be nonviable due to the cost of acquiring inputs or protecting young trees from fire, drought, pests or diseases. The cost of land is another barrier to widespread tree-planting, especially where there is competition with other land uses such as food or biofuel production. Tree planting is, however, unlikely to be implemented on a scale to reach even the relatively modest potential contribution outlined by the IPPC – especially in the absence of a high carbon price. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/nov/29/planting-trees-climate-change
E>B>A Planting trees will reduce the temperature of the atmosphere by reducing global warming. Would the planting of trees reduce the temperature due to the reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere? Today, scientists have a long list of geo-engineering ideas that could be used to slow the impact of global warming while other methods are developed to actually mitigate the damage. Some ideas are simple and locally focused, such as planting new forests to absorb carbon dioxide, or painting roofs and paved areas white to reduce solar heat absorption. http://now.uiowa.edu/2012/12/laws-global-warming E>B>H>A Planting trees will reduce the amount of available water How would planting trees affect the amount of available water? Plant Any Tree Appropriate for Region and Climate to Offset Global Warming Ultimately, trees of any shape, size or genetic origin help absorb CO2. Most scientists agree that the least expensive and perhaps easiest way for individuals to help offset the CO2 that they generate in their everyday lives is to plant a tree…any tree, as long as it is appropriate for the given region and climate. http://environment.about.com/od/whatyoucando/a/best_trees.htm
Works researched and cited: http://www.exxonmobilperspectives.com/2012/09/12/natural-gas-fuels-bright-outlook-for-further-emissions-reductions/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=reduce+carbon+dioxide+emissions&utm_campaign=Emissions_|_Phrase&gclid=CNjLifbg2LsCFYOTKwod9jwAAA&gclsrc=ds (Natural gas fuels bright outlook for further emissions reductions) http://www.exxonmobilperspectives.com/2012/09/12/natural-gas-fuels-bright-outlook-for-further-emissions-reductions/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=reduce+carbon+dioxide+emissions&utm_campaign=Emissions_|_Phrase&gclid=CNjLifbg2LsCFYOTKwod9jwAAA&gclsrc=ds (emissions reduced) http://uanews.org/story/warming-climate-pushes-plants-up-the-mountain (warmer temperatures affect plants) http://www.umces.edu/project/sea-level-along-maryland%E2%80%99s-shorelines-could-rise-2-feet-2050-according-new-report (rising water on coastlines by 2050) http://now.uiowa.edu/2012/12/laws-global-warming (planting forests) http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=7350 (reduced co2?) http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_reduce_carbon_dioxide_levels_in_the_atmosphere http://www.eia.gov/environment/emissions/ghg_report/ghg_carbon.cfm (Carbon dioxide emissions) http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/nov/29/planting-trees-climate-change (planting trees) http://environment.about.com/od/whatyoucando/a/best_trees.htm (best trees to plant)
Assignment 4: ESS Analysis Event: What is happening to our planet with the increase of CO2? E>A The increase of CO2 is changing our atmosphere. What changes are occurring in our atmosphere?
In 2009, the CO2 global average concentration in Earth's atmosphere was about 0.0387%,[11] or 387 parts per million (ppm).[1][12] At the scientific recording station in Mauna Loa, the concentration reached 0.04% or 400 ppm for the first time in May 2013,[13][14] although this level had already been reached in the Arctic in June 2012.[15] There is an annual fluctuation of about 3–9 ppmv which roughly follows the Northern Hemisphere's growing season. The Northern Hemisphere dominates the annual cycle of CO2 concentration because it has much greater land area and plant biomass than the Southern Hemisphere. Concentrations peak in May as the Northern Hemisphere spring greenup begins and reach a minimum in October when the quantity of biomass undergoing photosynthesis is greatest.[16] Sir Brian Hoskins of the Royal Society said that the 400ppm milestone should "jolt governments into action".[17] The National Geographic noted that the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is this high "for the first time in 55 years of measurement—and probably more than 3 million years of Earth history",[18] and according to the global monitoring director at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Earth System Research Lab, "it's just a reminder to everybody that we haven't fixed this, and we're still in trouble." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_PageIn
E>L The increase of CO2 is change in ground temperature. How is CO2 increasing affecting the growing season? Crops grown in the United States are critical for the food supply here and around the world. U.S. exports supply more than 30% of all wheat, corn, and rice on the global market. [2] Changes in temperature, amount of carbon dioxide (CO2), and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather could have significant impacts on crop yields. Warmer temperatures may make many crops grow more quickly, but warmer temperatures could also reduce yields. Crops tend to grow faster in warmer conditions. However, for some crops (such as grains), faster growth reduces the amount of time that seeds have to grow and mature. [1] This can reduce yields (i.e., the amount of crop produced from a given amount of land). For any particular crop, the effect of increased temperature will depend on the crop's optimal temperature for growth and reproduction. [1] In some areas, warming may benefit the types of crops that are typically planted there. However, if warming exceeds a crop's optimum temperature, yields can decline. Higher CO2 levels can increase yields. The yields for some crops, like wheat and soybeans, could increase by 30% or more under a doubling of CO2 concentrations. The yields for other crops, such as corn, exhibit a much smaller response (less than 10% increase). [3] However, some factors may counteract these potential increases in yield. For example, if temperature exceeds a crop's optimal level or if sufficient water and nutrients are not available, yield increases may be reduced or reversed. More extreme temperature and precipitation can prevent crops from growing. Extreme events, especially floods and droughts, can harm crops and reduce yields. For example, in 2008, the Mississippi River flooded just before the harvest period for many crops, causing an estimated loss of $8 billion for farmers. [1] Dealing with drought could become a challenge in areas where summer temperatures are projected to increase and precipitation is projected to decrease. As water supplies are reduced, it may be more difficult to meet water demands. Many weeds, pests and fungi thrive under warmer temperatures, wetter climates, and increased CO2 levels. Currently, farmers spend more than $11 billion per year to fight weeds in the United States. [1] The ranges of weeds and pests are likely to expand northward. This would cause new problems for farmers' crops previously unexposed to these species. Moreover, increased use of pesticides and fungicides may negatively affect human health. [1] http://www.epa.gov/climatAmericans . [2] E>H The increase in CO2 is changing the Earth's water state. Would the Earth's water tables increase or decrease? According to the article found on the website, www.umces.edu, a new report on sea level , it is reported to rise as much as 2 feet by 2050. Led by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, the report was prepared by a panel of scientific expert in response to Governor O,Malley's exewcutive Order on Climate Change and Coast Smart construction. The projections are based on an assessment of the latest climate change science and federal guidelines.
Assignment 4: ESS Analysis Event=How has the increase in carbon dioxide emissions affected our global community? E>A The increase of CO2 in our atmosphere will increase the average temperature in our atmosphere. How many degrees has the average timperature risen in the last hundred years due to global warming? There are slight differences in global records between groups at NCDC, NASA, and the University of East Anglia. Each group calculates global temperature year by year, using slightly different techniques. However, analyses from all three groups point to the decade between 2000 and 2009 as the hottest since modern records began more than a century ago. Temperatures in the 2010s have been running slightly warmer still. The year 2012 was the warmest on record for the contiguous United States, according to the National Climatic Data Center, a full degree Fahrenheit than any other year since national records began in 1895. Averaged over all land and ocean surfaces, temperatures warmed roughly 1.53°F from 1880 to 2012, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.(https://www2.ucar.edu)
E>B The increase of CO2 in our atmosphere will change habitat for some plants and animals. Has there already been loss of habitat due to global warming? The impact of anthropogenic climate change on terrestrial organisms is often predicted to increase with latitude, in parallel with the rate of warming. Yet the biological impact of rising temperatures also depends on the physiological sensitivity of organisms to temperature change. We integrate empirical fitness curves describing the thermal tolerance of terrestrial insects from around the world with the projected geographic distribution of climate change for the next century to estimate the direct impact of warming on insect fitness across latitude. The results show that warming in the tropics, although relatively small in magnitude, is likely to have the most deleterious consequences because tropical insects are relatively sensitive to temperature change and are currently living very close to their optimal temperature. In contrast, species at higher latitudes have broader thermal tolerance and are living in climates that are currently cooler than their physiological optima, so that warming may even enhance their fitness. Available thermal tolerance data for several vertebrate taxa exhibit similar patterns, suggesting that these results are general for terrestrial ectotherms. Our analyses imply that, in the absence of ameliorating factors such as migration and adaptation, the greatest extinction risks from global warming may be in the tropics, where biological diversity is also greatest. (http://www.pnas.org/content/105/18/6668.short)
E>H The increase of CO2 in our atmosphere will liquidate part of our ice caps. What percent of our glacial ice has melted due to global warming? The polar ice cap as a whole is shrinking. Images from NASA satellites show that the area of permanent ice cover is contracting at a rate of 9 percent each decade. If this trend continues, summers in the Arctic could become ice-free by the end of the century. (ttp://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/qthinice.asp)
E>H>L The increase of CO2 in our atmosphere will melt part of our ice caps receeding our coastlines? Has there been a decrease in coastlines due to global warming? Global warming has the potential to completely alter the structure and function of the nation's estuaries and coastal wetlands. Sea level rise threatens to inundate many coastal wetlands, with little room to move inland because of coastal development. Already sharply reduced in acreage, coastal freshwater wetlands are especially vulnerable to rising sea levels. In the next 100 years, taking into account the ongoing sinking of land in some coastal areas, net sea-level rise could exceed six feet. Warmer water from global warming will alter the species composition and contribute to worsening dead zones and harmful algal blooms, increased incidence of marine diseases, and expansion of harmful invasive species. (http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat/Estuaries-and-Coastal-Wetlands.aspx)
E>H>B The increase of CO2 in our atmosphere will increase the depth of our oceans destroying our coral reefs. How has global warming caused damage to our coral reefs? Higher sea temperatures from global warming have already caused major coral bleaching events. Bleaching occurs when corals respond to the stress of warmer temperatures by expelling the colorful algae that live within them. Some coral are able to recover, but too often the coral dies, and the entire ecosystem for which it forms the base, virtually disappears. Longer-lasting and more extensive bleaching events are already on the rise, with further increases expected in the decades ahead as ocean temperatures continue to rise. Warmer waters are also expected to increase the incidence of other coral diseases such as black band disease, white band disease, white plague, and white pox, all of which can lead to mass mortality of coral, and subsequently the entire ecosystem it supports. Ocean acidification--which occurs when oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere--is also a threat to coral. As the oceans become more acidic, the corals' ability to form skeletons through calcification is inhibited, causing their growth to slow. A doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide will reduce calcification in some corals by as much as 50 percent. Sea level rise caused by melting sea ice and thermal expansion of the oceans could also cause problems for some reefs by making them too deep to receive adequate sunlight, another factor important for survival. In one year alone, 16 percent of the world's coral reefs were wiped out. A sea temperature change of a mere one degree Celsius would yield similar losses. Increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the water cause additional damage to corals, leaving them defenseless against storm damage and erosion. (http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat/Coral-Reefs.aspx)
E>B The increase of CO2 is affecting Earth's plant and animals. How is CO2 increasing affecting the beef industry? Americans consume more than 37 million tons of meat annually. [2] The U.S. livestock industry produced $100 billion worth of goods in 2002. [4] Changes in climate could affect animals both directly and indirectly. Heat waves, which are projected to increase under climate change, could directly threaten livestock. A number of states have each reported losses of more than 5,000 animals from just one heat wave. [1] Heat stress affects animals both directly and indirectly. Over time, heat stress can increase vulnerability to disease, reduce fertility, and reduce milk production. Drought may threaten pasture and feed supplies. Drought reduces the amount of quality forage available to grazing livestock. Some areas could experience longer, more intense droughts, resulting from higher summer temperatures and reduced precipitation. For animals that rely on grain, changes in crop production due to drought could also become a problem. Climate change may increase the prevalence of parasites and diseases that affect livestock.The earlier onset of spring and warmer winters could allow some parasites and pathogens to survive more easily. In areas with increased rainfall, moisture-reliant pathogens could thrive. [3] Increases in carbon dioxide (CO2) may increase the productivity of pastures, but may also decrease their quality. Increases in atmospheric CO2 can increase the productivity of plants on which livestock feed. However, studies indicate that the quality of some of the forage found in pasturelands decreases with higher CO2. As a result, cattle would need to eat more to get the same nutritional benefits. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/agriculture.html The way plants are affected was answer in E>L . The question was asked about ground temperature and plant life. See E>L E>B>H The increase of CO2 largely effects plants and animal life needed to sustain that life. Do we have enough water in increase tree and animal life on Earth? According to the tables on the skepticalscience website, there is enough water to sustain an increase in plant and animal life on this plant. E>H>L The increase of CO2 has changed our coastlines. What are if any the changes in our coastlines? According to the website, www.umces.edu, Maryland should plan for a rise in sea level of as much as 2 feet by 2050. The state of Maryland is committed to taking the necessary actions to adapt to the rising sea and guard against the impacts of extreme storms, says Governor Martin O'Malley. In doing so, we must stay abreast of the latest climate science to ensure that we have a sound understanding of our vulnerability and are making informed decisions about how to best protect our land, infrastructure, and most importantly, the citizens of Maryland. The independent report done on this website states that recommended to plan for at least a 2.1 foot rise in sea level in 2050 along the Maryland shorelines than it was in 2000. Maryland has about 3,100 miles of tiidal shoreline and low-lying rural and urban lands that will be impacted. The experts estimate for the amount of greater than 2.1 feet. Theeir best estimate for sea level rise by 2100 is 3.7 feet. They concluded that it is unlikely toa be less than 2.1 feet or more than 5.7 feet based on current scientific understanding. These estimates were made based on the various contributors to sea level rise: thermal expansion of ocean volumn as a result of warming, the melting of glaciers and Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, changing ocean dynamics such as the slowing of the Gulf Stream, and vertical land movement. www.umces.edu/project/sea-level-along-maryland%E2%80%99s-shorelines-could-rise-2-feet-2050according-new-reporthttp://www.skepticalscience.com/Can-animals-and-plants-adapt-to-global-warming.htm
E>A>B The increase of CO2 in our atmosphere will decrease our air quality causeing health problems in our human population. Has the increase of carbon emissions caused significant health issues in our human population? A Stanford scientist has spelled out for the first time the direct links between increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and increases in human mortality, using a state-of-the-art computer model of the atmosphere that incorporates scores of physical and chemical environmental processes. While it has long been known that carbon dioxide emissions contribute to climate change, the new study details how for each increase of 1 degree Celsius caused by carbon dioxide, the resulting air pollution would lead annually to about a thousand additional deaths and many more cases of respiratory illness and asthma in the United States, according to the paper by Mark Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford. Worldwide, upward of 20,000 air-pollution-related deaths per year per degree Celsius may be due to this greenhouse gas. (http://news.stanford.edu/news/2008/january9/co-010908.html) E>A>B Increasing the usage of vehicles run on alternative energy will decrease the carbon dioxide emissions in our atmosphere. Will replacing the gasoline vehicle with an electric powered vehicle reduce carbon emissions? According to a range of studies doing a ‘well to wheels’ analysis, an electric car leads to significantly less carbon dioxide pollution from electricity than the CO2 pollution from the oil of a conventional car with an internal combustion engine. In some areas, like many on the West Coast that rely largely on wind or hydro power, the emissions are significantly lower for EVs. And that's today. As we retire more coal plants and bring cleaner sources of power online, the emissions from electric vehicle charging drop even further. Additionally, in some areas, night-time charging will increase the opportunity to take advantage of wind power -- another way to reduce emissions. A caveat to consider is that when coal plants supply the majority of the power in a given area, electric vehicles may emit more CO2 and SO2 pollution than hybrid electric vehicles. Learn where your electricity comes from, what plans your state or community has for shifting to renewables, and whether you have options for switching to greener power. (http://content.sierraclub.org/evguide/myths-vs-reality)
Event=How has the increase in carbon dioxide emissions affected our global community? Recommendation: Although many resources seem to contradict each other, the consenses seems to be that the increase in carbon emissions has been from human activity. There has been loss of habitat, destruction of coral reefs, changing coastlines, and an increase in human health issues. There are ways to decrease the carbon dioxide emissions in our atmosphere if we, as a global society, work together. We can as individuals, as a city, and as a country use "cleaner" energy, "clean-up" our transportation method, and with the use of alternative energy create a heathier world. Works cited: https://www2.ucar.edu http://www.pnas.org/content/105/18/6668.short http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/qthinice.asp http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat/Estuaries-and-Coastal-Wetlands.aspx http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat/Coral-Reefs.aspx http://news.stanford.edu/news/2008/january9/co-010908.html http://content.sierraclub.org/evguide/myths-vs-reality
Recommendation: There are a lot of changes going on in the world around us. The atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere are all vulnable to the increase of CO2. We all must change our ways in order to sustain a healthy and stable environment or we will suffer irreparable damages. A worldwide effect must be put in place now rather than later, or before it is too late. Work cited: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_PageIn http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/agriculture.html
E > A Increased Carbon Dioxide emissions increases atmospheric temperatures.
1. How much has the global temperature increased over the past 50 years? According to nasa.gov, the temperature of the Earth ultimately depends on the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide accounts for 20% of the greenhouse effect, but 80% of the force that sustains the greenhouse effect. Global temperature has increased 1ºC over the past century.
B>E>A>H Human production of carbon dioxide cause increased levels in the atmosphere which contribute to global warming, which causes melting of glaciers.
2. What human activities are producing the largest amounts of carbon dioxide? Many activities contribute to the increase in carbon emissions. These include burning fossil fuels, using electricity, driving cars, and manufacturing done in factories, http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/solutions/index.html
Studies have shown that in the U.S. ⅓ of the carbon emissions come from vehicles of all types, including cars, buses, trains and planes. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/solutions/actions/travel.html
Additional resources confirm this data and show that transportation is the largest contributor, the second largest is household biofuels, and the third largest contributor is methane from agriculture http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/news/20100218a/
3. What is already being done to reduce carbon dioxide emissions on a global scale? Many solutions focus on the use of alternative energy. These solutions include an increase in wind and solar energy production as well as geothermal, nuclear, and hydro power. Less well known efforts include using biomass products to use plant products to produce energy and fuels. Nuclear power plants do not produce carbon emissions, but mining for uranium does. Many factories are capturing their carbon dioxide emissions and storing them underground. In Europe methane captured from landfills and agriculture sites is being used to produce energy that heats homes and powers trains. The use of green vehicles is increasing and there are several options. Vehicles that burn natural gas have fewer emissions, electric cars have no direct production of carbon dioxide, and hydrogen powered cars have no emissions. On a smaller scale, light bulbs and appliances have become more energy efficient. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/solutions/actions/travel.html
4. What are the barriers to reducing this production?
There is always resistance to change and carbon reduction is not immune. I found several articles in which I found that wide-spread controversy over the validity of global warming continues. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970204301404577171531838421366
I also found that some political leaders are concerned that the cost of requiring changes to manufacturing and energy production will impact global economy, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
5. What can individuals and small communities do to reduce carbon emissions? I wondered if individuals can have a real impact on the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Many websites assured me that every little bit counts, especially when combined with the actions of other similar individuals. The epa.gov site has a calculator so that you can apply numbers to your efforts, but it is difficult to see the real effect when you compare it to the billions of pounds of carbon dioxide produced in the U.S. annually. Recommended changes include proper insulation in the home, buying energy star appliances and furnaces, installing a light colored roof, decreasing water use and changing light bulbs. Using an energy efficient car, walking, biking or riding the bus were also mentioned. Buying local foods and products will decrease fossil fuels needed for transporting these foods. Of course, we should all recycle, reduce, and reuse. www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/solutions/actions/travel.html
6. Which of these strategies will have the most benefit?
In the above research it is noted that transportation, biofuels used to heat homes, and methane produced from agriculture are the greatest contributors to carbon dioxide emissions. Knowing this, it stands to reason that an individual can see the most benefit from changing their transportation choices. When possible, decrease automobile use by walking, biking, and consolidating trips. When choosing an automobile, look for one that has a higher mpg or is a hybrid. Home heating and cooling costs can be reduced with the use of a programmable thermostat, the planting of trees, and the use of fans.
Event: To what degree has carbon dioxide affected our communities?
E>B The impact different atmospheric gases have on human and animals. Are there some atmospheric gases that are more harmful than carbon dioxide to the animal (human and animal) body that are naturally in the air we breathe? Has there been an increase in these other gases that would be a precursor to the carbon dioxide beginning to increase? 1-Scientist Mark Jacobson of Stanford University wrote a paper in 2008 based on his study of an increase of deaths due to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions. 2-The major greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere through human activities are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases. As you can see by looking at this chart, all of these gases are a byproduct of something other occurrence. Gas breakdown – The Wisconsin Department of Health Services states methane is not a major problem to humans. It dissipates quickly in the atmosphere, can linger and harbor in soil. They recommend children to not eat dirt. Nitrous oxide can have more serious effects on humans than methane. It is formed when fuels are burned at higher temperatures (combustion) and in factories that manufacture explosives. Consideration of proximity to factories and industrial areas of towns, and smoking are all things people should take into account when looking at how nitrous oxide may affect them. Fluorinated gases are the fastest growing of greenhouse gases. These gases are usually contained in products, air conditioners, aerosol cans, refrigerators. This is a rather large chart but it has such great information to lend to the statement: Major Greenhouse Gases Associated With Human Activities Greenhouse gas How it's produced Average lifetime in the atmosphere 100-year global warming potential Carbon dioxide Emitted primarily through the burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), solid waste, and trees and wood products. Changes in land use also play a role. Deforestation and soil degradation add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, while forest regrowth takes it out of the atmosphere. see below* 1 Methane Emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from livestock and agricultural practices and from the anaerobic decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills. 12 years 21 Nitrous oxide Emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste. 114 years 310 Fluorinated gases A group of gases that includes hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride, among other chemicals. These gases are emitted from a variety of industrial processes and commercial and household uses, and do not occur naturally. Sometimes used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). A few weeks to thousands of years Varies (the highest is sulfur hexafluoride at 23,900)
E>L>H The impact carbon dioxide has already had on coastlines and water supplies. How can we help our coastlines from irreversible consequences? Global warming can increase the number of super storms, destroying communities that reside on the coast as well as vegetation that depend on oceanic resources. Warmer temperatures in oceans have a higher tendency to make prime conditions for hurricanes. Warmer weather (weather being the day to day readings versus readings over a period of time) caused by an increase in the amount of radiation that is allowed to enter the atmosphere causing the surface temperature to increase is consequently increasing the temperature of oceans, causing the water to evaporate at a higher rate. These storms are eroding coastlines. September 2013, National Geographic had this sub-title for an article it ran, “Many scientists have blamed global warming for more intense recent hurricane seasons and for the more destructive storms that are predicted in years to come, but a new study says climate change could eventually help safeguard the U.S. Atlantic Coast from hurricanes.” Within the article, meteorologists and scientists disagree if this could in fact be the case. They contest the length of the hurricane season which could be extended because of global warming. If in fact these storms move out to sea, this could be a positive move to safe coastlines but not at the possible expense of these same areas not getting the rainfall and thundershowers they have come to expect.
E>B>H The impact carbon dioxide has on algae in oceans and on land. Can algae in fact be the answer to preserving our atmosphere? How would we keep the algae from changing in design and consequently hurting the atmosphere? Algae is the oldest known living plant that has been photosynthesizing the oxygen needed for life. A type of bacteria known as cyanobacteria was discovered in rocks that are believed to be at least three billion years old. The Carbon Dioxide Analysis Center has a statement on its website that addressed this idea bringing all vegetation back to one and there not being a possibility of separating the location, “Given that oxygen is produced by vegetation, it might be argued that humankind has the greatest influence on the oxygen cycle by means of alterations in the world's vegetation (e.g., deforestation, effects of increasing atmospheric CO2 on photosynthesis).” Knowing algae is the most abundant green plant, and often the most forgotten, there will be continue to be a greater demand placed on greens to keep up with carbon dioxide.
Assignment 4 ESS Analysis
ReplyDeleteE>B Planting trees will reduce the carbon dioxide level in an urban area.
How many trees and in what concentration would need to be planted to make an impact on the CO2 level in an urban area?
Forests play an important an important role in climate change. The destruction and degradation of forests contributes to the problem through the release of CO2. But the planting of new forests can help mitigate against climate change by removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Combined with the sun's energy, the captured carbon is converted into trunks, branches, roots and leaves via the process of photosynthesis. It is stored in this "biomass" until being returned back into the atmosphere, whether through natural processes or human interference, thus completing the carbon cycle. Under certain conditions plantations can grow relatively fast, thus absorbing CO2 at higher rates than natural forests. In the absence of major disturbances, newly planted or regenerating forests can continue to absorb carbon for 20–50 years or more. In comparison to preventing the loss of natural forests, however, tree planting has the potential to make only a limited contribution to reducing CO2 levels in the atmosphere. In 2000, the IPCC gathered the available evidence for a special report which concluded that tree-planting could sequester (remove from the atmosphere) around 1.1–1.6 GT of CO2 per year. That compares to total global greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 50 GT of CO2 in 2004. Some tree-planting projects established to absorb CO2 have turned out to be nonviable due to the cost of acquiring inputs or protecting young trees from fire, drought, pests or diseases. The cost of land is another barrier to widespread tree-planting, especially where there is competition with other land uses such as food or biofuel production. Tree planting is, however, unlikely to be implemented on a scale to reach even the relatively modest potential contribution outlined by the IPPC – especially in the absence of a high carbon price. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/nov/29/planting-trees-climate-change
E>B>A Planting trees will reduce the temperature of the atmosphere by reducing global warming.
Would the planting of trees reduce the temperature due to the reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere?
Today, scientists have a long list of geo-engineering ideas that could be used to slow the impact of global warming while other methods are developed to actually mitigate the damage. Some ideas are simple and locally focused, such as planting new forests to absorb carbon dioxide, or painting roofs and paved areas white to reduce solar heat absorption. http://now.uiowa.edu/2012/12/laws-global-warming
E>B>H>A Planting trees will reduce the amount of available water
How would planting trees affect the amount of available water?
Plant Any Tree Appropriate for Region and Climate to Offset Global Warming
Ultimately, trees of any shape, size or genetic origin help absorb CO2. Most scientists agree that the least expensive and perhaps easiest way for individuals to help offset the CO2 that they generate in their everyday lives is to plant a tree…any tree, as long as it is appropriate for the given region and climate. http://environment.about.com/od/whatyoucando/a/best_trees.htm
Works researched and cited:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.exxonmobilperspectives.com/2012/09/12/natural-gas-fuels-bright-outlook-for-further-emissions-reductions/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=reduce+carbon+dioxide+emissions&utm_campaign=Emissions_|_Phrase&gclid=CNjLifbg2LsCFYOTKwod9jwAAA&gclsrc=ds (Natural gas fuels bright outlook for further emissions reductions)
http://www.exxonmobilperspectives.com/2012/09/12/natural-gas-fuels-bright-outlook-for-further-emissions-reductions/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=reduce+carbon+dioxide+emissions&utm_campaign=Emissions_|_Phrase&gclid=CNjLifbg2LsCFYOTKwod9jwAAA&gclsrc=ds (emissions reduced)
http://uanews.org/story/warming-climate-pushes-plants-up-the-mountain (warmer temperatures affect plants)
http://www.umces.edu/project/sea-level-along-maryland%E2%80%99s-shorelines-could-rise-2-feet-2050-according-new-report (rising water on coastlines by 2050)
http://now.uiowa.edu/2012/12/laws-global-warming (planting forests)
http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=7350 (reduced co2?)
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_reduce_carbon_dioxide_levels_in_the_atmosphere
http://www.eia.gov/environment/emissions/ghg_report/ghg_carbon.cfm (Carbon dioxide emissions)
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/nov/29/planting-trees-climate-change (planting trees)
http://environment.about.com/od/whatyoucando/a/best_trees.htm (best trees to plant)
Assignment 4: ESS Analysis
ReplyDeleteEvent: What is happening to our planet with the increase of CO2?
E>A The increase of CO2 is changing our atmosphere.
What changes are occurring in our atmosphere?
In 2009, the CO2 global average concentration in Earth's atmosphere was about 0.0387%,[11] or 387 parts per million (ppm).[1][12] At the scientific recording station in Mauna Loa, the concentration reached 0.04% or 400 ppm for the first time in May 2013,[13][14] although this level had already been reached in the Arctic in June 2012.[15] There is an annual fluctuation of about 3–9 ppmv which roughly follows the Northern Hemisphere's growing season. The Northern Hemisphere dominates the annual cycle of CO2 concentration because it has much greater land area and plant biomass than the Southern Hemisphere. Concentrations peak in May as the Northern Hemisphere spring greenup begins and reach a minimum in October when the quantity of biomass undergoing photosynthesis is greatest.[16]
Sir Brian Hoskins of the Royal Society said that the 400ppm milestone should "jolt governments into action".[17] The National Geographic noted that the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is this high "for the first time in 55 years of measurement—and probably more than 3 million years of Earth history",[18] and according to the global monitoring director at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Earth System Research Lab, "it's just a reminder to everybody that we haven't fixed this, and we're still in trouble."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_PageIn
E>L The increase of CO2 is change in ground temperature.
ReplyDeleteHow is CO2 increasing affecting the growing season?
Crops grown in the United States are critical for the food supply here and around the world. U.S. exports supply more than 30% of all wheat, corn, and rice on the global market. [2] Changes in temperature, amount of carbon dioxide (CO2), and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather could have significant impacts on crop yields.
Warmer temperatures may make many crops grow more quickly, but warmer temperatures could also reduce yields. Crops tend to grow faster in warmer conditions. However, for some crops (such as grains), faster growth reduces the amount of time that seeds have to grow and mature. [1] This can reduce yields (i.e., the amount of crop produced from a given amount of land).
For any particular crop, the effect of increased temperature will depend on the crop's optimal temperature for growth and reproduction. [1] In some areas, warming may benefit the types of crops that are typically planted there. However, if warming exceeds a crop's optimum temperature, yields can decline.
Higher CO2 levels can increase yields. The yields for some crops, like wheat and soybeans, could increase by 30% or more under a doubling of CO2 concentrations. The yields for other crops, such as corn, exhibit a much smaller response (less than 10% increase). [3] However, some factors may counteract these potential increases in yield. For example, if temperature exceeds a crop's optimal level or if sufficient water and nutrients are not available, yield increases may be reduced or reversed.
More extreme temperature and precipitation can prevent crops from growing. Extreme events, especially floods and droughts, can harm crops and reduce yields. For example, in 2008, the Mississippi River flooded just before the harvest period for many crops, causing an estimated loss of $8 billion for farmers. [1]
Dealing with drought could become a challenge in areas where summer temperatures are projected to increase and precipitation is projected to decrease. As water supplies are reduced, it may be more difficult to meet water demands.
Many weeds, pests and fungi thrive under warmer temperatures, wetter climates, and increased CO2 levels. Currently, farmers spend more than $11 billion per year to fight weeds in the United States. [1] The ranges of weeds and pests are likely to expand northward. This would cause new problems for farmers' crops previously unexposed to these species. Moreover, increased use of pesticides and fungicides may negatively affect human health. [1]
http://www.epa.gov/climatAmericans . [2]
E>H The increase in CO2 is changing the Earth's water state.
Would the Earth's water tables increase or decrease?
According to the article found on the website, www.umces.edu, a new report on sea level , it is reported to rise as much as 2 feet by 2050. Led by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, the report was prepared by a panel of scientific expert in response to Governor O,Malley's exewcutive Order on Climate Change and Coast Smart construction. The projections are based on an assessment of the latest climate change science and federal guidelines.
Assignment 4: ESS Analysis
ReplyDeleteEvent=How has the increase in carbon dioxide emissions affected our global community?
E>A The increase of CO2 in our atmosphere will increase the average temperature in our atmosphere.
How many degrees has the average timperature risen in the last hundred years due to global warming?
There are slight differences in global records between groups at NCDC, NASA, and the University of East Anglia. Each group calculates global temperature year by year, using slightly different techniques. However, analyses from all three groups point to the decade between 2000 and 2009 as the hottest since modern records began more than a century ago. Temperatures in the 2010s have been running slightly warmer still. The year 2012 was the warmest on record for the contiguous United States, according to the National Climatic Data Center, a full degree Fahrenheit than any other year since national records began in 1895. Averaged over all land and ocean surfaces, temperatures warmed roughly 1.53°F from 1880 to 2012, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.(https://www2.ucar.edu)
E>B The increase of CO2 in our atmosphere will change habitat for some plants and animals.
Has there already been loss of habitat due to global warming?
The impact of anthropogenic climate change on terrestrial organisms is often predicted to increase with latitude, in parallel with the rate of warming. Yet the biological impact of rising temperatures also depends on the physiological sensitivity of organisms to temperature change. We integrate empirical fitness curves describing the thermal tolerance of terrestrial insects from around the world with the projected geographic distribution of climate change for the next century to estimate the direct impact of warming on insect fitness across latitude. The results show that warming in the tropics, although relatively small in magnitude, is likely to have the most deleterious consequences because tropical insects are relatively sensitive to temperature change and are currently living very close to their optimal temperature. In contrast, species at higher latitudes have broader thermal tolerance and are living in climates that are currently cooler than their physiological optima, so that warming may even enhance their fitness. Available thermal tolerance data for several vertebrate taxa exhibit similar patterns, suggesting that these results are general for terrestrial ectotherms. Our analyses imply that, in the absence of ameliorating factors such as migration and adaptation, the greatest extinction risks from global warming may be in the tropics, where biological diversity is also greatest. (http://www.pnas.org/content/105/18/6668.short)
E>H The increase of CO2 in our atmosphere will liquidate part of our ice caps.
ReplyDeleteWhat percent of our glacial ice has melted due to global warming?
The polar ice cap as a whole is shrinking. Images from NASA satellites show that the area of permanent ice cover is contracting at a rate of 9 percent each decade. If this trend continues, summers in the Arctic could become ice-free by the end of the century. (ttp://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/qthinice.asp)
E>H>L The increase of CO2 in our atmosphere will melt part of our ice caps receeding our coastlines?
Has there been a decrease in coastlines due to global warming? Global warming has the potential to completely alter the structure and function of the nation's estuaries and coastal wetlands. Sea level rise threatens to inundate many coastal wetlands, with little room to move inland because of coastal development. Already sharply reduced in acreage, coastal freshwater wetlands are especially vulnerable to rising sea levels. In the next 100 years, taking into account the ongoing sinking of land in some coastal areas, net sea-level rise could exceed six feet.
Warmer water from global warming will alter the species composition and contribute to worsening dead zones and harmful algal blooms, increased incidence of marine diseases, and expansion of harmful invasive species. (http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat/Estuaries-and-Coastal-Wetlands.aspx)
E>H>B The increase of CO2 in our atmosphere will increase the depth of our oceans destroying our coral reefs.
How has global warming caused damage to our coral reefs? Higher sea temperatures from global warming have already caused major coral bleaching events. Bleaching occurs when corals respond to the stress of warmer temperatures by expelling the colorful algae that live within them. Some coral are able to recover, but too often the coral dies, and the entire ecosystem for which it forms the base, virtually disappears.
Longer-lasting and more extensive bleaching events are already on the rise, with further increases expected in the decades ahead as ocean temperatures continue to rise. Warmer waters are also expected to increase the incidence of other coral diseases such as black band disease, white band disease, white plague, and white pox, all of which can lead to mass mortality of coral, and subsequently the entire ecosystem it supports.
Ocean acidification--which occurs when oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere--is also a threat to coral. As the oceans become more acidic, the corals' ability to form skeletons through calcification is inhibited, causing their growth to slow. A doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide will reduce calcification in some corals by as much as 50 percent.
Sea level rise caused by melting sea ice and thermal expansion of the oceans could also cause problems for some reefs by making them too deep to receive adequate sunlight, another factor important for survival. In one year alone, 16 percent of the world's coral reefs were wiped out. A sea temperature change of a mere one degree Celsius would yield similar losses. Increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the water cause additional damage to corals, leaving them defenseless against storm damage and erosion. (http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat/Coral-Reefs.aspx)
E>B The increase of CO2 is affecting Earth's plant and animals.
ReplyDeleteHow is CO2 increasing affecting the beef industry?
Americans consume more than 37 million tons of meat annually. [2] The U.S. livestock industry produced $100 billion worth of goods in 2002. [4] Changes in climate could affect animals both directly and indirectly.
Heat waves, which are projected to increase under climate change, could directly threaten livestock. A number of states have each reported losses of more than 5,000 animals from just one heat wave. [1] Heat stress affects animals both directly and indirectly. Over time, heat stress can increase vulnerability to disease, reduce fertility, and reduce milk production.
Drought may threaten pasture and feed supplies. Drought reduces the amount of quality forage available to grazing livestock. Some areas could experience longer, more intense droughts, resulting from higher summer temperatures and reduced precipitation. For animals that rely on grain, changes in crop production due to drought could also become a problem.
Climate change may increase the prevalence of parasites and diseases that affect livestock.The earlier onset of spring and warmer winters could allow some parasites and pathogens to survive more easily. In areas with increased rainfall, moisture-reliant pathogens could thrive. [3]
Increases in carbon dioxide (CO2) may increase the productivity of pastures, but may also decrease their quality. Increases in atmospheric CO2 can increase the productivity of plants on which livestock feed. However, studies indicate that the quality of some of the forage found in pasturelands decreases with higher CO2. As a result, cattle would need to eat more to get the same nutritional benefits.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/agriculture.html
The way plants are affected was answer in E>L . The question was asked about ground temperature and plant life. See E>L
E>B>H The increase of CO2 largely effects plants and animal life needed to sustain that life.
Do we have enough water in increase tree and animal life on Earth?
According to the tables on the skepticalscience website, there is enough water to sustain an increase in plant and animal life on this plant.
E>H>L The increase of CO2 has changed our coastlines.
What are if any the changes in our coastlines?
According to the website, www.umces.edu, Maryland should plan for a rise in sea level of as much as 2 feet by 2050. The state of Maryland is committed to taking the necessary actions to adapt to the rising sea and guard against the impacts of extreme storms, says Governor Martin O'Malley. In doing so, we must stay abreast of the latest climate science to ensure that we have a sound understanding of our vulnerability and are making informed decisions about how to best protect our land, infrastructure, and most importantly, the citizens of Maryland.
The independent report done on this website states that recommended to plan for at least a 2.1 foot rise in sea level in 2050 along the Maryland shorelines than it was in 2000. Maryland has about 3,100 miles of tiidal shoreline and low-lying rural and urban lands that will be impacted. The experts estimate for the amount of greater than 2.1 feet. Theeir best estimate for sea level rise by 2100 is 3.7 feet. They concluded that it is unlikely toa be less than 2.1 feet or more than 5.7 feet based on current scientific understanding.
These estimates were made based on the various contributors to sea level rise: thermal expansion of ocean volumn as a result of warming, the melting of glaciers and Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, changing ocean dynamics such as the slowing of the Gulf Stream, and vertical land movement.
www.umces.edu/project/sea-level-along-maryland%E2%80%99s-shorelines-could-rise-2-feet-2050according-new-reporthttp://www.skepticalscience.com/Can-animals-and-plants-adapt-to-global-warming.htm
E>A>B The increase of CO2 in our atmosphere will decrease our air quality causeing health problems in our human population.
ReplyDeleteHas the increase of carbon emissions caused significant health issues in our human population?
A Stanford scientist has spelled out for the first time the direct links between increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and increases in human mortality, using a state-of-the-art computer model of the atmosphere that incorporates scores of physical and chemical environmental processes. While it has long been known that carbon dioxide emissions contribute to climate change, the new study details how for each increase of 1 degree Celsius caused by carbon dioxide, the resulting air pollution would lead annually to about a thousand additional deaths and many more cases of respiratory illness and asthma in the United States, according to the paper by Mark Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford. Worldwide, upward of 20,000 air-pollution-related deaths per year per degree Celsius may be due to this greenhouse gas. (http://news.stanford.edu/news/2008/january9/co-010908.html)
E>A>B Increasing the usage of vehicles run on alternative energy will decrease the carbon dioxide emissions in our atmosphere.
Will replacing the gasoline vehicle with an electric powered vehicle reduce carbon emissions? According to a range of studies doing a ‘well to wheels’ analysis, an electric car leads to significantly less carbon dioxide pollution from electricity than the CO2 pollution from the oil of a conventional car with an internal combustion engine. In some areas, like many on the West Coast that rely largely on wind or hydro power, the emissions are significantly lower for EVs. And that's today. As we retire more coal plants and bring cleaner sources of power online, the emissions from electric vehicle charging drop even further. Additionally, in some areas, night-time charging will increase the opportunity to take advantage of wind power -- another way to reduce emissions. A caveat to consider is that when coal plants supply the majority of the power in a given area, electric vehicles may emit more CO2 and SO2 pollution than hybrid electric vehicles. Learn where your electricity comes from, what plans your state or community has for shifting to renewables, and whether you have options for switching to greener power. (http://content.sierraclub.org/evguide/myths-vs-reality)
Event=How has the increase in carbon dioxide emissions affected our global community?
Recommendation: Although many resources seem to contradict each other, the consenses seems to be that the increase in carbon emissions has been from human activity. There has been loss of habitat, destruction of coral reefs, changing coastlines, and an increase in human health issues. There are ways to decrease the carbon dioxide emissions in our atmosphere if we, as a global society, work together. We can as individuals, as a city, and as a country use "cleaner" energy, "clean-up" our transportation method, and with the use of alternative energy create a heathier world.
Works cited:
https://www2.ucar.edu
http://www.pnas.org/content/105/18/6668.short
http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/qthinice.asp
http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat/Estuaries-and-Coastal-Wetlands.aspx
http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat/Coral-Reefs.aspx
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2008/january9/co-010908.html
http://content.sierraclub.org/evguide/myths-vs-reality
Recommendation:
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of changes going on in the world around us. The atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere are all vulnable to the increase of CO2. We all must change our ways in order to sustain a healthy and stable environment or we will suffer irreparable damages. A worldwide effect must be put in place now rather than later, or before it is too late.
Work cited:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_PageIn
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/agriculture.html
Event: Increased Carbon Dioxide Emissions
ReplyDeleteE > A Increased Carbon Dioxide emissions increases atmospheric temperatures.
1. How much has the global temperature increased over the past 50 years?
According to nasa.gov, the temperature of the Earth ultimately depends on the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide accounts for 20% of the greenhouse effect, but 80% of the force that sustains the greenhouse effect. Global temperature has increased 1ºC over the past century.
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/co2-temperature.html
E>A>H When carbon dioxide levels increase, water vapor returns to the atmosphere, this causes glaciers to melt.
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/co2-temperature.html
B>E>A>H Human production of carbon dioxide cause increased levels in the atmosphere which contribute to global warming, which causes melting of glaciers.
2. What human activities are producing the largest amounts of carbon dioxide?
Many activities contribute to the increase in carbon emissions. These include burning fossil fuels, using electricity, driving cars, and manufacturing done in factories, http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/solutions/index.html
Studies have shown that in the U.S. ⅓ of the carbon emissions come from vehicles of all types, including cars, buses, trains and planes.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/solutions/actions/travel.html
Additional resources confirm this data and show that transportation is the largest contributor, the second largest is household biofuels, and the third largest contributor is methane from agriculture
http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/news/20100218a/
3. What is already being done to reduce carbon dioxide emissions on a global scale?
Many solutions focus on the use of alternative energy. These solutions include an increase in wind and solar energy production as well as geothermal, nuclear, and hydro power. Less well known efforts include using biomass products to use plant products to produce energy and fuels. Nuclear power plants do not produce carbon emissions, but mining for uranium does. Many factories are capturing their carbon dioxide emissions and storing them underground. In Europe methane captured from landfills and agriculture sites is being used to produce energy that heats homes and powers trains. The use of green vehicles is increasing and there are several options. Vehicles that burn natural gas have fewer emissions, electric cars have no direct production of carbon dioxide, and hydrogen powered cars have no emissions. On a smaller scale, light bulbs and appliances have become more energy efficient.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/solutions/actions/travel.html
4. What are the barriers to reducing this production?
There is always resistance to change and carbon reduction is not immune. I found several articles in which I found that wide-spread controversy over the validity of global warming continues.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970204301404577171531838421366
I also found that some political leaders are concerned that the cost of requiring changes to manufacturing and energy production will impact global economy,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
5. What can individuals and small communities do to reduce carbon emissions?
ReplyDeleteI wondered if individuals can have a real impact on the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Many websites assured me that every little bit counts, especially when combined with the actions of other similar individuals. The epa.gov site has a calculator so that you can apply numbers to your efforts, but it is difficult to see the real effect when you compare it to the billions of pounds of carbon dioxide produced in the U.S. annually. Recommended changes include proper insulation in the home, buying energy star appliances and furnaces, installing a light colored roof, decreasing water use and changing light bulbs. Using an energy efficient car, walking, biking or riding the bus were also mentioned. Buying local foods and products will decrease fossil fuels needed for transporting these foods. Of course, we should all recycle, reduce, and reuse. www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/solutions/actions/travel.html
6. Which of these strategies will have the most benefit?
In the above research it is noted that transportation, biofuels used to heat homes, and methane produced from agriculture are the greatest contributors to carbon dioxide emissions. Knowing this, it stands to reason that an individual can see the most benefit from changing their transportation choices. When possible, decrease automobile use by walking, biking, and consolidating trips. When choosing an automobile, look for one that has a higher mpg or is a hybrid. Home heating and cooling costs can be reduced with the use of a programmable thermostat, the planting of trees, and the use of fans.
Event: To what degree has carbon dioxide affected our communities?
ReplyDeleteE>B The impact different atmospheric gases have on human and animals.
Are there some atmospheric gases that are more harmful than carbon dioxide to the animal (human and animal) body that are naturally in the air we breathe?
Has there been an increase in these other gases that would be a precursor to the carbon dioxide beginning to increase?
1-Scientist Mark Jacobson of Stanford University wrote a paper in 2008 based on his study of an increase of deaths due to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions.
2-The major greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere through human activities are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases. As you can see by looking at this chart, all of these gases are a byproduct of something other occurrence. Gas breakdown – The Wisconsin Department of Health Services states methane is not a major problem to humans. It dissipates quickly in the atmosphere, can linger and harbor in soil. They recommend children to not eat dirt. Nitrous oxide can have more serious effects on humans than methane. It is formed when fuels are burned at higher temperatures (combustion) and in factories that manufacture explosives. Consideration of proximity to factories and industrial areas of towns, and smoking are all things people should take into account when looking at how nitrous oxide may affect them. Fluorinated gases are the fastest growing of greenhouse gases. These gases are usually contained in products, air conditioners, aerosol cans, refrigerators. This is a rather large chart but it has such great information to lend to the statement:
Major Greenhouse Gases Associated With Human Activities
Greenhouse gas How it's produced Average lifetime in the atmosphere 100-year global warming potential
Carbon dioxide Emitted primarily through the burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), solid waste, and trees and wood products. Changes in land use also play a role. Deforestation and soil degradation add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, while forest regrowth takes it out of the atmosphere. see below* 1
Methane Emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from livestock and agricultural practices and from the anaerobic decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills. 12 years 21
Nitrous oxide Emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste. 114 years 310
Fluorinated gases A group of gases that includes hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride, among other chemicals. These gases are emitted from a variety of industrial processes and commercial and household uses, and do not occur naturally. Sometimes used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). A few weeks to thousands of years Varies (the highest is sulfur hexafluoride at 23,900)
E>L>H The impact carbon dioxide has already had on coastlines and water supplies.
ReplyDeleteHow can we help our coastlines from irreversible consequences?
Global warming can increase the number of super storms, destroying communities that reside on the coast as well as vegetation that depend on oceanic resources. Warmer temperatures in oceans have a higher tendency to make prime conditions for hurricanes. Warmer weather (weather being the day to day readings versus readings over a period of time) caused by an increase in the amount of radiation that is allowed to enter the atmosphere causing the surface temperature to increase is consequently increasing the temperature of oceans, causing the water to evaporate at a higher rate. These storms are eroding coastlines. September 2013, National Geographic had this sub-title for an article it ran, “Many scientists have blamed global warming for more intense recent hurricane seasons and for the more destructive storms that are predicted in years to come, but a new study says climate change could eventually help safeguard the U.S. Atlantic Coast from hurricanes.” Within the article, meteorologists and scientists disagree if this could in fact be the case. They contest the length of the hurricane season which could be extended because of global warming. If in fact these storms move out to sea, this could be a positive move to safe coastlines but not at the possible expense of these same areas not getting the rainfall and thundershowers they have come to expect.
E>B>H The impact carbon dioxide has on algae in oceans and on land.
Can algae in fact be the answer to preserving our atmosphere?
How would we keep the algae from changing in design and consequently hurting the atmosphere?
Algae is the oldest known living plant that has been photosynthesizing the oxygen needed for life. A type of bacteria known as cyanobacteria was discovered in rocks that are believed to be at least three billion years old. The Carbon Dioxide Analysis Center has a statement on its website that addressed this idea bringing all vegetation back to one and there not being a possibility of separating the location, “Given that oxygen is produced by vegetation, it might be argued that humankind has the greatest influence on the oxygen cycle by means of alterations in the world's vegetation (e.g., deforestation, effects of increasing atmospheric CO2 on photosynthesis).” Knowing algae is the most abundant green plant, and often the most forgotten, there will be continue to be a greater demand placed on greens to keep up with carbon dioxide.