ENVS 202 1st Edition Lecture 12Outline of Last Lecture I. Review of Greenhouse Effect and Greenhouse GasesII. CarbonOutline of Current Lecture I. Carbon and other Greenhouse GasesII. Climate ChangeIII. Nitrogen and FertilizersCurrent LectureI. Carbon and Other Greenhouse GasesThere is relatively low carbon in the atmosphere, but huge amounts in the oceanWhere do the atoms of coal go when it is burned?Some of the mass of the coal produces CO2 in the atmosphereOrganic matter like coal doesn’t become energy or get consumed because it is instead convertedIt also contains nitrogen and sulfur which are converted to nitrogenous and sulfuric oxidesWhat human activities contribute the most greenhouse gases?Power stationsIndustrial processesTransportation fuelsAgricultural products: produces a significant amount of methane, nitrous oxideFossil fuel retrieval and distributionThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.Should efforts to reduce CO2 be focused on land use changes or fossil fuel combustion?Both, but fossil fuel use is the major contributor especially in more developed countriesMethane sources in the USLandfillsNatural gas systemsCoal miningManure managementNitrous oxide sources in the USAgricultural soil managementMobile combustionNitric acid productionManure managementHow can the US reduce GHG emissions?Eating less meat and being more conscious of where we get our food and how it’s madeUsing less electricity or using alternative meansReduce travel or travel by more efficient meansBiggest contributor Why?CO2 Electric power generation: fossil fuels, industry, transportationBurning coalBurning oilMethane Farming/ranching, landfills, fossil fuelsEnteric fermentationAnaerobic decayNitrous oxide Agriculture, transportation, industryExcessive use of nitrogen fertilizersII. Climate ChangeNational Climate AssessmentFires, floods, and storms will be more extreme; ecosystems won’t be able to support themOceans will be warmer and more acidicHurricanes: sea surface temperature and hurricane intensity trends are closely related and their graphs match up wellIII. Nitrogen and FertilizersNitrogen is essential for plant growth, but in excess, it pollutes waterwaysPhosphorus, pesticides, heavy metals, xenoestrogens, and heat can also pollute waterwaysBioswales and composting are important for organic matter in soils and eutrophication of
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