Anthropogenic Sources of Atmospheric Methane Essay -- Geology

Anthropogenic Sources of Atmospheric Methane cornerstoneThe atmosphere has always contained the Greenho intent Gas methane. Along with deoxycytidine monophosphatedioxide, azotic oxide, and water vapor, methane helps to create the natural greenhouse act.These gases trap some of the suns efficacy and keep the Earth at a warm enough temperatureto mother life. If the occurrence of any of these gases in the atmosphere is increased, thenatural greenhouse effect will intensify and further warm the Earth. Due to mans activities, theamount of atmospherical methane has more(prenominal) than doubled since pre-industrial times. It coulddouble again by the year 2050. Today, 60 to 70% of methane releases come from human-related activities. Pie chart of Greenhouse Gases The Effect of Methane on Global heating plantMethane is the second largest contributor to potential global warm (carbon dioxide being thefirst). Methane is an extremely powerful greenhouse gas, and it increases the greenhou se effectin two ways. Firstly, it absorbs infr atomic number 18d radiation well, making it twenty times more effective attrapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Secondly, increased amounts of methaneincreases the amount of water vapor in the stratosphere, further trapping heat. Anothercharacteristic of methane relative to global warming is its staying power the methane released like a shot could still trap heat more than a decade from now. Its niggardness in the atmosphere isrising annually. LandfillsThe largest source of methane emissions in the United States are landfills. Landfill gas, which ismainly composed of methane and carbon dioxide, is the result of the anaerobic decomposition of... ... it and use it for ourbenefit. Sources Pipkin. Recent Climate Change. http//madmonster.williams.edu/geol.103/04-Climates2.html, Fall 1996EPA. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Methane. http//www.epa.gov/oppeoee1/globalwarming/ enrolment/1998-inv/methane.html, April 7, 1998World Meteorological Organization. Scientists Support IPCC Global Warming Conclusion, Call for industrious Action. http//www.voyagepub.com/stories/0996cli2.htm , Summer 1996EPA. Climate Change Methane and other Greenhouse Gases. http//www.epa.gov/outreach/ghginfo/reports.htmGlobal Warming is Happening. http//www.enviroweb.org/edf/ishappening/ishappening_frameset.html. copyright 1997Methane (CH4). http//global.phy.pdx.edu/sarah/CH4.htmlMichael Franklin. Trash Can Be Turned Into Energy Source. http//www.dfpress.com/ recognition/0422972.html, April 1997