The Dangers of Carbon Dioxide
Thesis: As the environment encounters damage from increasing levels of carbon dioxide, actions on both governmental and individual levels need to be implemented in order to protect the welfare of future life.
Introduction
In an era of rising technology and increasing population, demands on the environment are continually being pushed to new levels. As a result, it becomes important for us to expand our knowledge about the environment and take appropriate actions to protect this element of most importance to human existence. One component of our environment experiencing some of the greatest abuse due to humans is the air. Air pollution has been on the rise ever since the beginning of
…show more content…
Some of the major greenhouse gases excluding water vapor are: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. Of these, CO2 is the most important because of the vast amount released by human activity. Before the Industrial Revolution, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide was 280 ppm; it has now risen to a level of 360 ppm today with an annual increase of 2 ppm (Rising Carbon, 1992).
There are various consequences that may arise if significant global warming begins to take effect. Some scientists believe that over the next 50 years, global temperatures could rise by as much as 1.5-4.5 degrees Celsius worldwide (Climate Change, 1997). Many speculate that this increase in temperatures could produce profound, if not devastating effects to our environment and ourselves. Already, many scientists are attributing some of the severe weather around the world such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts to global warming (Bernard, 1993). The high-latitude regions are likely to have the largest temperature change, while regions such as the North American Great Plains are predicted to feel a large decrease in precipitation (Climate Change, 1997). In regions with a lowered precipitation rate, agriculture would suffer, potentially causing severe economic and food shortage problems. Numerous species of plants and animals could also suffer, causing permanent damage to ecosystems and biodiversity. It is also thought that because of
Air pollution has been a major problem throughout world for the past 5 decades i.e. a few years after the industrial revolution. There are two types of air pollutions a) Natural and b) Anthropogenic, of which the natural causes (volcanoes, forest fires and tornadoes) are not in the control of man (Mosley 2010). Anthropogenic air pollution on the hand is a type of anomaly in the atmosphere where foreign objects are released into the air entirely by man and his activities (Industries, transport) and are controllable.
The major greenhouse gas is water vapor. Then there is carbon dioxide, plus a few trace gases (Easterling & Karl, 2011, para4). Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere by natural processes and by human actions such as burning fossil fuels. Methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases are all emitted into the atmosphere by human activities (U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2010, Greenhouse Gas Overview section).
Hello, today I will present my presentation on the good and bad of carbon dioxide. This presentation will focus on the characteristics of carbon, global or local issues related to carbon dioxide, what science is doing to address these issues and the benefits and limitations of these scientific methods.
There is much controversy concerning Carbon Dioxide emissions in recent years and the effect these emissions have on the environment. As people continue to be more interested in profits than in environmental matters conditions are likely to worsen in the near future. It is actually surprising to observe how in spite of data pointing toward the belief that CO2 emissions have a particularly negative on the environment people fail to express enough concern about this general situations. More and more environmental agencies and strategies have emerged during recent years but they have had a limited effect on CO2 emissions and this is largely owed to the fact that the general public is still reluctant to get actively involved in fighting on behalf of the environment.
Greenhouse emissions are made up of all types of gasses such as methane, nitrous oxide, and the leading emission: Carbon dioxide (N/A). “The standard ways of living has increased, as energy supply is the leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions. Transportation also deals with a large amount of greenhouse emissions being released into our solar system. Starting in 1950, greenhouse gasses started to increase dramatically. This
Everyday society evolves, new technologies and ideas are born, although life seems perfect there are many reasons to be scared. Ever since the industrial revolution started the production of carbon dioxide has gone up in tremendous quantities. Because of this increase in greenhouse gases the earth has experienced drastic changes. These changes are the reason for why humanity should be scared, humans have control of many things but weather and natural disasters are not something we can control. On the other hand, society has taken steps to diminish the production of carbon dioxide, although this process may take time to make a significant impact it provides humanity with a reason to feel like our situation will improve. It is easy to feel good about these current efforts towards resolving climate change. However, to make a serious impact on the problem, we need to diminish our carbon dioxide footprint significantly, and
Carbon dioxide (chemical formula CO2) is a colourless and odourless gas vital to life on Earth. This naturally occurring chemical compound is composed of a carbon atom covalently double bonded (linear) to 2 oxygen atoms. CO2 only makes up for 0.04% of the atmosphere, however CO2 is an exceptionally important gas. Although Earth's atmosphere is 90% opaque to long wave IR radiation, the vast majority of the atmosphere is not composed of gases that cause the greenhouse effect. Molecular nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2) make up roughly 98% of our atmosphere, and neither is a greenhouse gas. So, although the greenhouse effect is very powerful, a very small fraction of Earth's atmospheric gases generate the effect. The main greenhouse gasses are water
Water vapor, which is the most abundant greenhouse gas, but importantly, it acts as a feedback to the climate. Water vapor increases as the Earth’s atmosphere warms, but so does clouds and precipitation, making these the most important to the greenhouse effect. Nitrous Oxide, produced
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a trace gas accounting for about 0.039 per cent or 390 ppm currently. CO2 concentration increases by 1 to 3 ppm every year primarily because of burning of fossil fuels. In future, by 2100 the atmospheric CO2 concentration should reach 600 to 750 ppm. Plants are directly influenced by increase in CO2 concentration; and increase in CO2 affects many physiological processes like photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, reproductive processes, and yield.
Many of the greenhouse gases in the troposphere are naturally produced, which is why the Earth is able to stay at a constant average global temperature. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas in which is affecting global warming, not because of naturally produced carbon dioxide, but mainly because of man made carbon dioxide emissions. Man made carbon dioxide is produced by decomposed fossils, which eventually turn into oil and coal from underground, and are dug up by heavy machinery. Once dug up, the coal and oil are used to power things like fireplaces in homes or machinery like cars, and the expenditure of the coal and oil (fossil fuels) burns and releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This man made carbon dioxide emissions began in the late 18th century and is known as the industrial revolution. Due to this fossil fuel burning, the atmosphere thickens because there is an increase in greenhouse gases that accumulate mainly in the troposphere and a little over half of man made carbon dioxide stays in atmosphere, which can last for a century and means there are more greenhouse gases to trap heat. This causes the cycle of input and output of heat to become unbalanced, and therefore causes a lot more heat to be trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere than is being radiated
I want to discuss how our modern society continues to contribute to this increase in greenhouse gases. How individual users acting independently and rationally according to their own self-interests behave contrary to the common good of all users by depleting that resource. How these resources are depleting and greener options are available and how the new sustainability advantage is a better and profitable option.
It is a recorded fact that the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today is at the highest level ever recorded or studied. The large number of invasive carbon dioxide molecules is causing detrimental problems in the environment. This gas is linked to the Earth’s drastically rising temperatures, causing the rising sea level and thousands of arctic animals to lose their homes. This is an unignorable problem that needs great minds who are passionate and determined in this field. The most substantial problems mankind has faced were solved by hard working and dedicated scientists. The inevitable problems caused by the huge carbon dioxide concentration is a problem that can be solved in the same way. I believe that by gaining knowledge in this field it would give me the ability to create a way to reverse the carbon cycle, by developing a synthetic plant of sorts. By doing this, not only could the greenhouse effect be prevented from further damaging the environment, but we may also keep the amount of Carbon Dioxide in the air to a minimum. I hope to be a lot like the great scientists of this earth due to my determined and passionate nature, and with the right schooling and research I would like to be a part of the research to try and solve this critical problem.
There are three main greenhouse gases that play a large role in keeping our planet at a stable temperature; carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Other gases produced are troposheric ozone, CFC-12, HCFC-22, and sulfur hexafluoride. The greenhouse effect used to have no legitimate harm on earth, but, humans have been the reason for the increase in these greenhouse gases, therefore creating what we know today as; global warming. Without these greenhouse gases, the earth would be so incredibly cold that no living entity could survive.
We need oxygen in our lungs, we need to breathe in air because that is how our respiratory system work; our body needs oxygen to survive. When we go outside, we might see a blue sky, but have you ever stopped to think what its in the air exactly? Well, definitely not just oxygen, there is other gases and nitrogen makes up 78% of the air. Sometimes, there is many things that we cannot see, but that are harmful for our health; The air you breathe might be polluted, but you can’t just stop breathing.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) - Fossil fuel use is the primary source of CO2. The way in which people use land is also an important source of CO2, especially when it involves deforestation. Land can also remove CO2 from the atmosphere through reforestation, improvement of soils, and other activities.