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A. Identification of Pollutant In the Atmosphere Carbon Dioxide Carbon Dioxide is a colorless gas having a faint, sharp odor and a sour taste; it is a minor component of Earth’s atmosphere formed in combustion of carbon-containing materials, in fermentation, and in respiration of animals and employed by plants in the photosynthesis of carbohydrates, Though llvlng things emit carbon dioxide when they breathe, carbon dioxide is widely considered to be a pollutant when associated with cars, planes, power plants, and other human activities that involve the burning of fossil fuels such as gasoline and natural gas.
In the past 150 years, such activities have pumped enough carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to raise Its levels higher than they have been for hundreds of thousands of years. B. Causes Carbon dioxide is constantly being exchanged among the atmosphere, ocean, and land surface as it is both produced and absorbed by many microorganisms, plants, and animals. However, emissions and removal of C02 by these natural processes tend to balance.
Since the Industrial Revolution began around 1750, human actlvltles have contributed substantially to climate change by adding C02 and other heat- rapping gases to the atmosphere. The main human activity that emits C02 is the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil) for energy and transportation, although certain Industrial processes and land-use changes also emit C02. Electrlclty is a significant source of energy used to power homes, business, and industry. The combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity is the largest single source of C02 emissions in the nation.
The combustion of fossil fuels such as gasoline and diesel to transport people and goods is the second largest source of C02 emissions. Many Industrial processes emit c02 through fossil fuel combustion. several processes also produce C02 emissions through chemical reactions that do not involve combustion, for example, the production and consumption of mineral products such as cement, the production of metals such as Iron and steel, and the production of chemicals. C. Effects Radiation from the Sun heats Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and land, making life on Earth possible.
The incoming radiation can easily pass through the outer atmosphere in order to reach the Earth, but much of it cannot escape as the atmosphere acts as a ne way valve. Exactly how much of the radiation escapes the atmosphere depends on the concentration of greenhouse gases present. The amount of radiation which escapes depends on the concentration of greenhouses gases in the atmosphere, carbon emissions add to the concentration, this means that the surface temperature of the Earth Increases.
This warming will Increase with time, and could have disastrous consequences like densely settled coastal plains would become uninhabitable with Just a small rise in sea level, which would result from melting of he ice caps; global warming could have major effects on agricultural productivity; warming would result In increase high cloud cover in winter, giving chemical reactions a platform In the atmosphere, which could result In depletion of the ozone layer; a warmer climate could change the weather systems of the earth, meaning 1 OF2 diseases would be able to spread to areas which were previously too cold for them to survive in, and as with the diseases, the range of plants and animals would change, Nith the net effect of most organisms moving towards the North and South Poles. D. Recommendation rhe most effective way to reduce carbon dioxide (C02) emissions is to reduce fossil fuel consumption. Many strategies for reducing C02 emissions from energy are cross-cutting and apply to homes, businesses, industry, and transportation. Improving the insulation of buildings, traveling in more fuel-efficient vehicles, and using more efficient electrical appliances are all ways to reduce energy consumption, and thus C02 emissions.
Reducing personal energy use by turning off lights and electronics when not in use reduces electricity demand. Reducing distance traveled vehicles reduces petroleum consumption. Both are ways to reduce energy C02 emissions through conservation. Producing more energy from renewable sources and using fuels with lower carbon contents are ways to reduce carbon emissions. Carbon dioxide capture and sequestration is a set of technologies that can potentially greatly reduce C02 emissions from new and existing coal- and gas-fired power plants, industrial processes, and other stationary sources of C02. On a larger scale, governments are taking measures to limit emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.