Here's then story on CO2 – the Greenhouse Gas.
Carbon dioxide is a natural thing. It is emitted in several ways - through the natural carbon cycle and through "human activities" like the burning of fossil fuels.
Natural sources of CO2 occur within the carbon cycle. Billions of tons of atmospheric CO2 are removed from the atmosphere by rivers, lakes, oceans by absorption and removed growing plants through photosynthesis (known as sinks) and are slowly emitted back into the atmosphere annually through natural processes (known as sources).
Until the 1700's, carbon dioxide emissions and removals from the entire carbon cycle were approximately balanced.
Since the Industrial Revolution in the 1700’s, "human activities", like the burning of oil, coal, gasoline, propane, butane and natural gas, N20 (Nitrous Oxide) and other fluorinated gases like CF4 (Carbon Tetrafluoride), CF6 (Carbon Hexafluoride) and SF6 (Sulfur Hexafluoride) have increased CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. [I personally know of these because for more than 20 years I designed many, many, many gas delivery systems and those are some of the gases used in the ever increasing semiconductor industry that are emitted directly to the atmosphere without treatment.]
To further exacerbate the situation, both naturally occurring "activities", like forest fires caused by lightning and volcanoes, and "human activities" like the deliberate slash and burn deforestation of the Amazonian tropical forest in central Brazil (of which, the burning areas are so vast, it can be seen from space). I take it you saw the 2 comparison photos of the ice sheet coverage in this thread??…..one was all white with snow/ice coverage and the other showed roughly 20% coverage remaining now. Well, that same warming effect melting the ice is also affecting the permafrost. That thawing permafrost is now releasing HUGE amounts of what was previously “permanently” trapped methane.
Couple that with worldwide rural and urban development (human activity due to population growth) - the conversion of what was forested, grasslands, pastures and farmland to create vast areas of buildings and pavement have simultaneously removed the most effective CO2 "sinks".
The carbon cycle that was stable till the 1700’s is now way out of balance. According to data I can find, we are currently over 35% “out of balance” and that number is rising at a faster and faster rate. The more CO2 is emitted, less of it can be absorbed.
That extra carbon dioxide is called the Greenhouse Gas. As the density of it builds up in the atmosphere, it traps the earth’s heat. That’s where the term “global warming” came from. The more correct term should be Climate Change. That tiny amount of heat buildup causes huge changes in the atmosphere.
The layman thinks what’s the big deal? So the atmosphere rises 1 degree Fahrenheit? That ain’t nothing. We'll just have a nicer spring and summer. But that amount of change over the entire planet is FUCKING HUGE!! WAY FUCKING HUGE. Bajillions and bajillions of BTUs of heat.
Here’s the BTU conversion data. We use it on a daily basis. You can do the math yourself. Lemme know how many bajillions of BTUs you calculate……
A BTU (British Thermal Unit) is the amount of heat necessary to raise one pound of water by 1 degree Farenheit (F).
1 British Thermal Unit (BTU) = 1055 J (The Mechanical Equivalent of Heat Relation)
1 BTU = 252 cal = 1.055 kJ
1 Quad = 1015 BTU (World energy usage is about 300 Quads/year, US is about 100 Quads/year in 1996.)
1 therm = 100,000 BTU
1,000 kWh = 3.41 million BTU
That “tiny” 1 degree change can now drastically alter the weather patterns globally – forever. Dry places get drier or get more rain than before and wet places become deserts. More frequent and stronger tornadoes. Bigger and more powerful hurricanes. Deeper snow, or no snow at all. Exceptionally heavy rains and widespread flooding or prolonged droughts.
So that’s the story. Man IS causing the imbalance. And until we all see that, and make a conscious decision to make personal and global changes, the heat will increase, weather patterns will continue to change and get MORE extreme. Sure we may be able to adapt….we have before and maybe we do OK and maybe billions will die. But why should we be forced to go through that if we can divert our path now?? I practice "better to be safe than sorry" on a daily basis and so should you.
Capice??