Insight on Carbon Dioxide
Enoch Nigatu
Trinity Christian School
I pledge my honor that I have neither given nor received unauthorized assistance on this work.
___________________________________ 15 October 2015 Table of Contents
Abstract 3
Insight on Carbon Dioxide 4
Appendices
A: Types of Sequestration 9-10 B: Realities of CCS 11
References 13-15 Abstract
This paper explores three main facets of carbon dioxide: carbon dioxide as an atmospheric threat, the production of CO2, and the solution to its negative presence. Generally speaking, these concepts are described by the following statements, respectively: it is a danger because it affects climate change; it is produced by
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Thus, the study explores scientific insight into the aspects of carbon dioxide and reflects its spiritual significance for responsible Christian action.
This examines the hazards, the production, and a potential solution to the looming problem of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. CO₂, or carbon dioxide, is a greenhouse gas that plays a significant role in global warming. Power generation (see Figures 1 and 2) and manufacturing industries contribute to the production of carbon dioxide. Finally an effective climate change plan should integrate emission cuts and CCS. Releasing CO2 in the atmosphere is harmful to the environment in several ways. The combustion of fossil fuels releases new CO₂ in the atmosphere. Fossil fuels are made of hydrocarbons. When burned, these substances “change form and enter the atmosphere as carbon based gases”. The EPA concludes that 90% of carbon gases released into the atmosphere are from the combustion of fossil fuels. So, industrial combustion is the primary culprit of such CO₂ production (West, 2009).
Consequentially, such carbon based gases “pollute the air near the earth’s surface”, create smog, and increase the amounts of atmospheric greenhouse gases which contribute to global warming as diagrammed in Figure 1 (West, 2009). Coal, for instance, does not always burn cleanly as it often includes toxic elements (West, 2009). Thus the use of coal is hazardous for
The rapidly increasing amount of carbon dioxide may be one of the factors that cause climate change. As Hillman states, “Concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are increasing, and have done so since the Industrial Revolution.” An atmospheric CO2 concentration, research shows that there is a dramatic increase from 280 parts per million (ppm) in 1750 to 373 ppm in 2002, a rise of the third. Furthermore, the linear chart demonstrated the trend of annual global CO2
generated at power plants is carried by power lines to users, sometimes hundreds of miles away.
Carbon Dioxide is a dangerous, poisonous gas, carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that is appearing more in the atmosphere. The human body and most other species on earth need oxygen to live and breath. Without enough oxygen in the air we would suffocate and so would most other spices. Now there is a way to reverse the amount of CO2 in the air. The answer to this issue, is plant more trees! Trees and other vegetation take in CO2 and convert it to oxygen. Not only could we have CO2 levels on the rise but another big kill around the world is cancer is In 2012, there were an estimated 8.2 million deaths from cancer in the world. Cancer is the second leading cause of death around the world. Im
Damon Matthews, a professor in Concordia University’s Department of Geography, found a direct connection between carbon dioxide and global warming. Matthew’s studies show that same global temperature increase, regardless of when or over what period of time the emission occurs. The effect of adding more carbon dioxide is predicted in the theory of greenhouse gases. Swedish scientist, Syante Arrhenius, first proposed the theory in 1896, based on earlier work by Fourier and Tyndall. At the same time, many scientists have reached the same conclusion. If we increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the Earth’s temperature will increase. Energy is absorbed from the sun in the form of visible light and ultraviolet radiation. The earth then releases some of this energy as infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere captures some of this heat, then re-emit it in all directions. During this process, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases keep the Earth’s surface 33 degree Celsius warmer than it would be without them. According to an ongoing temperature analysis conducted by a scientist at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), the average global temperature on Earth has increased by about 0.8 degree Celsius. Since 1975, two-thirds of the warming has occurred at a rate of roughly 0.15-0.20 degree Celsius per decade.
Changes in CO2 are affecting us and our environment in many ways. the most predominant effect of carbon dioxide changes is on the weather and oceans. Unpredictable heat waves are occurring in unforeseen parts of the world (i.e. Europe) and global temperatures as a whole are rising. The rise in the temperatures can not only affect us but the flora and fauna around us. With hotter temperatures, some plants and animals may be unable to adjust which would result in a chain reaction. Heat is affecting the oceans as well and many long standing glaciers or ice shelves to melt and alter the oceans temperature, levels and salinity. These, resultantly, are causing disruptions to the thermohaline conveyor and are effecting islands or seaside town as the water level
Climate change or colloquially known as global warming, now pose a new threat to civilization as the levels of greenhouse gases (GHG) are soaring to new levels. The most significant contributor to greenhouse gasses would be Carbon Dioxide (Co2). The levels of Carbon Dioxide (Co2) gas have risen to levels civilization has not seen before. As such, the effects of these levels are not known to civilization as data gathered from the ice cores drilled in the Antarctica only shows data up to 650,000 years ago. However we can conclude that present CO2 concentrations are higher compared to any time in the last 650,000 years (IPCC 2007). Current carbon dioxide concentrations are hovering around 389 parts per million (ppm) as of September 2011,
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a type of odorless and colorless gas that can be either manmade or naturally made. Carbon dioxide is a vital greenhouse gas; in moderation. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the concentration of carbon dioxide has increased significantly. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the air is leading to global warming, ocean acidification and a multitude of many problems. In a report released from NASA, the scientist state that “that human-made carbon dioxide (CO2) continues to increase above levels not seen in hundreds of thousands of years: currently, about half of the carbon dioxide released from the burning of fossil fuels remains in the atmosphere and is not absorbed by vegetation and the oceans”. The current assessment of carbon dioxide in the air is 402 parts per million (ppm). One PPM is equivalent to one microgram/one kilogram (0.6 of a mile). Scientist claims that it needs to be brought down to 350 ppm to even start
In fact, “95 percent of the CO2 emitted each year is produced by nature” (Mathews Jr, NPA). It is not a dangerous pollutant that is clogging up the air. This is because Co2 “It is tasteless, colorless, nontoxic to humans at concentrations up to 13 times present levels and is essential to life” (Mathew Jr, NPA). Burning of wood and plastic or paper is a real harm that is not being controlled by the government. And with modern technology it can be used to replace those pollutants and be released harmlessly “Modern power stations have extensive filtration equipment which ensures that the exhaust gases are harmless natural gases already present in the atmosphere” (Forbes, 2013).
In the article “What they don’t tell you about climate change,” authors discuss the issues related to climate change while describing key suggestions to help combat the issue. As stated in the text, there has been a global goal to keep global temperature “well below 2°C hotter than pre-industrial times.” This goal had not been met, while carbon dioxide emissions are simply not enough to “limit the rise in temperature successfully.” Moreover, the authors have claimed that “Stopping the flow of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is not enough. It has to be sucked out, too.” This process, however, is very difficult and “nearly improbable.” Other alternatives including mass chemical filters, carbon dioxide binds to from carbonated rocks, and
“CO2 gas emissions” is a mystical term which everyone should pay attention to. C02 gas is a colorless, odorless gas that is present in the atmosphere and is formed when any fuel containing carbon is burned. Plants and trees are using it in the process of photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is also used in refrigeration, fire extinguishers, and carbonated drinks. In other words this is the gas we need to fight with! By using fossil fuels in almost everything we do, we make a huge cloud of gas and this is warming up the world. By doing this, we cause serious damage to the nature and we may have an irreversible effect on it and the future.
CO2 is the most significant greenhouse gas, which mainly comes from the use of fossil fuels. Many people feel that content of CO2 in the atmosphere is the main reason for manmade global warming. The main sources of CO2 emissions involve electricity generation, industrial processes, fumes from transportation and commercial buildings and use. Emissions of greenhouse gases, such as CO2, to the atmosphere are expected to cause even more of a significant change in global climate (Davison, 2007). The main focus to try to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is to reduce the amount that is released from coal-fired power plants. Greenhouse gas emissions that involve the productions of electricity come from natural gas production and coal-fired power plant operations. Natural gas production accounts for twenty-four percent and coal-fired power plant operations accounts for seventy-five percent, while the other one percent is caused by other electricity generation operations. The main reason why coal-fired power plants have a higher percentage of emissions is because the sulfur content of coal is much higher than that of other fossil fuels (Jarmaillo et al., 2007). This proves that there is a great need to find an alternative fossil fuel to use instead of coal. Although coal is easy to mine, transport and process for the electricity generation process, it is also the
Carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas naturally found in the atmosphere. Since the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s, humans have devised many inventions that burn fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gases, which, along with other human activities such as clearing land for agriculture or urban settlements, help some of these greenhouse gases accumulate in the atmosphere that in turn trap more heat radiation in the atmosphere causing the Earth’s climate to become warmer than it would naturally (Mastrandrea). This unnatural phenomenon is termed global warming by scientists and they blame it for an increase in the Earth’s surface temperature of about 0.6°C (about 1°F) over the last 100 years (Mastrandrea).
The accumulation of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) in the atmosphere has been a debate topic among scientists since a long time ago as it contributes to the risen of global surface temperature (Liddle and Lung, 2010). Carbon dioxide (CO2) has been pointed as the main greenhouse gas which responsible for global warming and related changes in climate. It has been increasing significantly over the past century, compared to the pre-industrial era (about 280 parts per million, or ppm). Empirical studies which explicitly examine the link between population and pollution in a systematic quantitative manner are very few in number (Cole and Neumayer, 2004).
In the article Does Air Pollution Help Reduce Global Warming by Evan Galloway, the author starts off with naming some of the many contributors to global warming. One example he uses is a fossil fuel that we know as coal. Galloway goes on to describe what is released from the coal when it is burned (which is carbon dioxide and sulfate) and the affect it has on our atmosphere. When sulfate is released into the air it forms aerosols, which contribute to our pollution and acid rain. (Galloway, 2009)
There is no dispute about the basic facts of this issue: carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas; the world's automobiles and power plants pour nearly 6 billion tons of it into the air every year; and there are countless indications that the planet is warming. Perhaps the most revealing is the fact that average temperatures have been gradually rising, and the ten hottest years on record since the 1860s have occurred since 1973.