Anthropogenic Sources of Atmospheric Methane Essay -- Geology

Anthropogenic Sources of Atmospheric Methane IntroductionThe cash machine has invariably contained the Greenhouse Gas methane. Along with carbondioxide, nitrous oxide, and water vapor, methane helps to defecate the natural greenhouse effect.These gases gin some of the suns energy and keep the res publica at a warm enough temperatureto sustain life. If the occurrence of any(prenominal) of these gases in the atmosphere is increased, thenatural greenhouse effect will escalate and further warm the Earth. Due to mans activities, the arrive of atmospheric methane has more than twofold since pre-industrial times. It coulddouble again by the year 2050. Today, 60 to 70% of methane releases complete from human-related activities. Pie chart of Greenhouse Gases The Effect of Methane on Global meltingMethane is the second largest contributor to potential global warming (carbon dioxide being thefirst). Methane is an highly powerful greenhouse gas, and it increases the greenhouse effecti n two ways. Firstly, it absorbs infrared 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. Another mark of methane relative to global warming is its staying power the methane releasedtoday could still trap heat more than a decade from now. Its concentration in the atmosphere isrising annually. LandfillsThe largest source of methane emissions in the United States are landfills. Landfill gas, which ismainly serene of methane and carbon dioxide, is the result of the anaerobic decomposition of... ... it and use it for ourbenefit. Sources Pipkin. Recent clime 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/inventory/1998-inv/methane.html, April 7, 1998World meteorologic Organization. Scientists Support IPCC Global Warming Conclusion, Call for Quick 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. grump Can Be Turned Into Energy Source. http//www.dfpress.com/science/0422972.html, April 1997