Global Warming

Definition and Symptoms

Human-caused atmospheric changes are beginning to make the Earth heat up, an average of 1.5 to 5.0 degrees Celsius if CO₂ in the atmosphere doubles.

Consequences

• Loss of Biodiversity
• Rising Sea Levels
• Intensifying Weather Systems (Floods, Hurricanes)

Causes

• Greenhouse Gases
  • Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)
  • Methane (NH₄)
  • Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)
  • Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂)
  • Chloroflourocarbons (CFCs)
  • Tropospheric Ozone (O₃)

Solutions

+ YES +:

• Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)
  • Plant Trees and other plants
  • Stimulate (some) oceanic algae growth (with iron?)
• Reduce Methane (NH₄) emissions
  • Reduce feedlot populations
  • Use methane digesters to treat sewage and generate fuel
  • Reduce termite populations by reducing habitat (rotting wood) with forest management and by encouraging termite predators.
• Reduce Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) emissions
  • Use alternative fuels instead of petrol.
• Reduce Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) emissions
  • Use alternative sources of electric power: wind, solar, hydro, natural gas.
• Reduce Chloroflourocarbons (CFCs) emissions
  • Use CFC substitutes in AC and Refrigeration (Ammonia? Methane?)
  • Always recapture CFCs when recharging or destroying AC units and refrigerators
• Reduce Tropospheric Ozone (O₃) emissions
  • Use alternative fuels (Natural Gas, Hydrogen) and Electricity to displace petrofuels.
  • Use vapor recovery systems and/or closed loop loading systems with all petrol storage systems.
  • Encourage higher efficiency in all internal combusion vehicles and machines.

- NO -:

• Emit CO₂
  • Burn wood, paper or garbage
  • Drive vehicles using fossil fuels
  • Heat with oil or Natural Gas
  • Travel by air
• Emit Methane (NH₄)
  • Continue current sewage practices in cattle feedlots
• Emit Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)
  • Drive internal combustion vehicles
• Emit Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂)
  • Burn coal in power plants
• Emit Chloroflourocarbons (CFCs)
  • Allow Air Conditiioning and Refrigerator technicians to vent CFC's to the atmosphere without recapture.
• Emit Tropospheric Ozone (O₃)
  • Allow petrol fumes to vent to atmosphere without recapture

Individual Role

+ YES +:

• Item 1

- NO -:

• Item 1

Business Role

+ YES +:

• Item 1

- NO -:

• Item 1

Government Role

+ YES +:

• Item 1

- NO -:

• Item 1

Info Resources

• http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ol/climate/globalwarming.html
• http://www.al.noaa.gov/WWWHD/pubdocs/Assessment98/ExecSum98.pdf