GHG and Carbon Pie

Atmospheric Gases Gas Symbol Content Nitrogen N % Oxygen O % Argon Ar 0.934% Carbon Dioxide CO % Neon Ne parts per million Helium He 5.20 parts per million Krypton Kr 1.10 parts per million Sulfur dioxide SO parts per million Methane CH parts per million Hydrogen H parts per million Nitrous Oxide N2O 0.50 parts per million Xenon Xe 0.09 parts per million Ozone O parts per million Nitrogen dioxide NO parts per million Iodine I parts per million Carbon monoxide CO trace Ammonia NH3 trace

Carbon Dioxide CO % (390 parts per million) Methane CH parts per million Nitrous Oxide N2O 0.50 parts per million Ozone O parts per million

Carbon Dioxide Most important GHG. 60% of the 'enhanced greenhouse effect'. Removed by photosynthesis and dissolving in water/oceans. Added by respiration, decomposition, volcanic eruptions.

Burning fossil fuels for transportation, electricity, buildings, industry Deforestation (decreased photosynthesis plus release of stored carbon) Increased by 30%. Will double from pre-industrial levels by Lasts 100 years Carbon Dioxide

The World's Carbon Reservoirs Reservoir Size (Gt C) Atmosphere 750 Forests 610 Soils 1580 Surface ocean 1020 Deep ocean 38,100 Fossil fuels Coal 4,000 Oil 500 Natural gas 500 Total fossil fuel 5,000

21 times warming effect of CO2. 20% of 'enhanced greenhouse effect'. increased 2.5x. Lasts years. Large reserves under permafrost. Methane

Anthropogenic million tonnes per year Natural sources million tonnes per year

Third most significant GHG Is 300 times more effective at trapping heat than CO 2. 16% increase Sources: nitrogen-based fertilizers, burning wood and fossil fuels, soils, oceans Lasts 150 years Nitrous oxide

3-7% of 'enhanced greenhouse effect'. In Stratosphere, blocks harmful UV rays. In Troposphere, absorbs IR rays, serious health problems Unevenly distributed,constantly changing. Time in atmosphere: 30 minutes to 22 days Ozone

thousands of metric tons Countries by carbon dioxide emission

Energy - Electricity and Heat- 24.6% of global GHG emissions

Energy sources

Sources of Electricity in the US DOE

Coal- about half of US electricity Worldwide billion tons consumed annually 75% for electricity In US, 90% for electricity 35% efficiency: 65% lost as heat

Current reserves gigatons, 164 years at current production Mining: Waste: uranium, heavy metal Interferes with groundwater and water tables Damages surface water - streams, rivers Physical destruction of land Burning: Source of background radiation exposure Largest source of CO2 Acid rain

Natural Gas About 20% of US electricity More efficient CO2 - 30% less than oil, 45% less than coal “Cleaner” - fewer emissions Expensive to transport Most reserves in Russia and Middle East

Nuclear Power ~20% of US electricity No CO 2 emissions Toxic Waste Uranium mining Expensive Potential consequences from accident

Hydroelectric ~7% of US electricity No CO2 emissions No waste Renewable Disruptions to rivers/populations/water quality

Puget Sound Energy About 42% Hydroelectric

Transmission and distribution loss ~ 7.5%

Electricity: Where does it go?

Transportation in US ~30% of CO 2 emmissions

Globally > 500 million vehicles 10 times 1950 Recent growth in Asia, but also Europe

Industry 10% of global energy use

US Manufacturing fuel consumption

Land Use Change 20% of CO 2 emissions Lost of forest - 13 million hectares lost each year. 6 million primary forest lost How big is that? -- Washington is >18 million hectares

Desertification

Agriculture 13-14% Nitrogen fertilizer production and use Waste management Livestock - especially grain-fed Rice paddies Irrigation

Waste