Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Greenhouse Gas Emissions are those greenhouse gases that allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere freely and contribute to the greenhouse effect, which many believe is the cause of global warming. There are natural and man-made greenhouse gas emissions. The primary greenhouse gases thought to be major contributors to global warming are; carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), methane & biomethane emissions (CH 4), chlorofluorocarbons, and nitrogen oxides (N2O). Not included, but should be included according to some climate scientists is water vapor.

The primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions from man-made sources include; fossil-fueled power plants such as natural gas power plants and coal fired power plants. Other sources of greenhouse gas emissions linked to man-made causes include internal combustion engines (fueled by gasoline and petroleum diesel) and deforestation.

Many people don’t realize that as much as 25% of per cent of the carbon dioxide emissions are naturally absorbed by the ocean and another 25% of the carbon dioxide emissions are absorbed by our biosphere, such as trees, plants, soil, etc. This leaves about 50% of the carbon dioxide emissions that are not absorbed and remaining in our atmosphere. As previously stated, carbon dioxide emissions are linked primarily to the burning of fossil fuels (power plants, cars, trucks, etc.) and deforestation. Greenhouse gas emissions have been on the increase ever since the dawn of the industrial revolution.

What Are Greenhouse Gases?

Many chemical compounds found in the Earth’s atmosphere act as “greenhouse gases.” These gases allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere freely. When sunlight strikes the Earth’s surface, some of it is reflected back towards space as infrared radiation (heat). Greenhouse gases absorb this infrared radiation and trap the heat in the atmosphere. Over time, the amount of energy sent from the sun to the Earth’s surface should be about the same as the amount of energy radiated back into space, leaving the temperature of the Earth’s surface roughly constant.

Many gases exhibit these “greenhouse” properties. Some of them occur in nature (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide), while others are exclusively human-made (like gases used for aerosols).

Biochar Technologies – new company that is integrating Renewable Energy Technologies with Biochar Production that will provide Carbon Capture and Sequestration. Company will focus on the generation of Synthesis Gas from Biomass Gasification plants that are co-located with their “Natural Wastewater Treatment” plants and the Synthesis Gas will fuel their cogeneration and trigeneration power plants.

What are Carbon Dioxide Emissions?

According to the EPA, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, or “Carbon Emissions” or simply “CO2,” are generated in a number of ways. Carbon Dioxide Emissions are produced naturally through the carbon cycle and through human activities like the burning of fossil fuels.

Natural sources of CO2 occur within the carbon cycle where billions of tons of atmospheric CO2 are removed from the atmosphere by oceans and growing plants, also known as ‘sinks,’ and are emitted back into the atmosphere annually through natural processes also known as ‘sources.’ When in balance, the total carbon dioxide emissions and removals from the entire carbon cycle are roughly equal.

Since the Industrial Revolution in the 1700’s, human activities, such as the burning of oil, coal and gases, and deforestation, have increased CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. In 2005, global atmospheric concentrations of CO2 were 35% higher than they were before the Industrial Revolution. Carbon Dioxide Emissions are responsible for about 80% of the problems related to Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions and carbon dioxide are one of the six chemicals:

Methane and Biomethane
Nitrous oxide
Uydrofluorocarbons
Perfluorocarbons
Sulfur hexafluoride

And all six chemicals are planned to be significantly reduced via the global agreements under the Kyoto Protocol and new legislation in the U.S. under the pending “Cap and Trade” regulations in an effort to prevent climate change.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions since the Year 1750

The carbon clock tracks total Carbon Dioxide Emissions in metric tons since 1750. Since 1750, humans have produced over 5 trillion pounds of Carbon Dioxide Emissions into the atmosphere.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions have caused CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere to reach 387 ppm – over 100 ppm higher than pre-industrial revolution levels that were at 280 ppm

Roughly half of these Carbon Dioxide Emissions have ended up in the oceans where it is beginning to damage the coral reefs. The other half is still in the atmosphere and causing global warming. Each pound of Carbon Dioxide (“CO2″) takes up as much space as a 500 pound person.

The formula (which should be good for a year or two) is:

C(t) = 2.58 ×1012 + 1240×t, where t is seconds since the start of 2007.
- C is tones (metric tons) of Carbon Dioxide Emissions.
- 2205 x C gives pounds of Carbon Dioxide Emissions.
- That comes to over 43 billion tons/year or over 86 trillion pounds/year.
- Carbon dioxide is made up from 1 carbon atom with 2 oxygen atoms, or simply, “CO2.”
- Carbon has relative weight 12 and Oxygen 16. Therefore, it takes only 12 pounds of carbon to make 12+16+16 = 44 pounds of Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

According to R. James Woolsey, for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, “The basic insight is to realize that global warming, the geopolitics of oil, and warfare in the Persian Gulf are not separate problems — they are aspects of a single problem, the West’s dependence on oil.”

According to a report by the United Nations: “It is estimated that Greenhouse Gas Emissions trading markets could be worth $2 Trillion by 2012.”

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Greenhouse Gas Emissions