Caroline Sun

Causes for Global Warming

Carbon Dioxide from Power Plants o 40% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions stem from the burning of fossil fuels for the purpose of electricity generation.
o Coal accounts for about 93% of the emissions from the

electric utility industry. Coal emits around 1.7% as much carbon per unit of energy when burned as does natural gas, and 1.25 times as much as oil. Natural gas gives off fifty percent of the carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, released by coal. Coal contains about eighty percent more carbon than the gas or oil does. ---equivalent to four months of electricity heating or 10,000 miles of driving at 25 miles and hour.

Carbon Dioxide from Cars

o

33% of U.S. Carbon dioxide emissions comes from the burning of gasoline in internal-combustion engines of jeeps, cars, ad light trucks. global warming. A new dodge Durango sports utility vehicle that gets over 12 miles per gallon in the city will emit about 800 pounds of carbon dioxide over a distance of 500 city miles. For every gallon, 19.6 pounds of CO2 is released ----source: EPA 2000 Fuel Economy Guide

o Convertibles with poor gas mileage contribute the most to

o US is the largest consumer of oil, using 20.4 million barrels a day. Carbon Dioxide form Planes o This causes 3.5% of global warming. It could possibly rise to 15 % by the end of 2050.

 Carbon Dioxide from Buildings o 12% of carbon dioxide emissions Methane o Second important Greenhouse Gas!!!!!
o 20 times more effective as CO2 in trapping heat in the

atmosphere. Levels of atmospheric methane have risen about 145% in the last 100 years. Methane is derived form sources such a rice paddies, bacteria in bogs. Water Vapor o Increased presence is caused by the warming caused by carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases. It holds on to 2/3 of the heat trapped by all the greenhouse gases.
o As the Earth heats up relative humidity is able to increase, allowing the planet's atmosphere to hold more water vapor, causing even more warming, thus a positive feedback scenario. Because the air is warmer, the relative humidity can be higher (in essence, the air is able to 'hold' more water when its warmer), leading to more water vapor in the atmosphere, says the NCDC

Nitrous Oxide o Laughing Gas Sweet, colorless non-flammable gas. o Naturally produced by oceans and rainforests o Man-made sources: nylon and nitric production use of fertilizers with agriculture, and cars with catalytic converters Deforestation

o Second principle cause of carbon dioxide. Responsible for

20-25% of all carbon emissions entering the atmosphere, by the burning and cutting of about 34 million acres of trees each year (size of Italy).
o Destroying tropical and temperate rain forests, which

account for the absorption rate of 2 billion tons of carbon annually. Siberia loses about 10 million acres of temperate forests a year. City Gridlock o Drivers in Los Angeles and New York City alone wasted 600 million gallons of gas while just sitting in traffic. Carbon in Atmosphere and Ocean
The atmosphere contains about 750 billion tons of carbon, while 1020 billion tons are dissolved in the surface layers of the world's ocean. Also: Forests 610 billion tons of Carbon Soils 1580 " " " Deep Ocean 38100 " " " Source: U.S.Global Change Research Information Office

Permafrost o Solid structure of frozen soil extending to depths of 2.200 feet in some areas. With the melting of permafrost, more damage is done to houses, pipes, and buildings, causing emissions of gases, such as methane, carbon, and other greenhouse gases. Tundra o With the melting of tundra, which hold about 50 billion tons of carbon, the melting could be disastrous.