by Betsy Young

Created on: September 24, 2007

Where do all those Greenhouse gasses come from anyway? The big three are carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4). Halocarbons, surface ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide are not considered greenhouse gasses but all play a part with the big three and their mix in the atmosphere. The study of the amounts of these gasses and their relationship to climate change is new.

Carbon dioxide comes naturally from plant respiration, fermentation and the decay of organic matter, active volcanoes, oceans and fire. Humans enhance the mix by burning fossil fuels to create energy. Deforestation and changing land use as in the case of agriculture and urban development are also human factors.

Methane resides in frozen slush in the northern artic permafrost regions and in the depths of the ocean. Man add to the mix by raising domesticated livestock, rice cultivation, biomass burning, natural gas delivery systems, landfills, and coal mining.

Nitrous Oxide results from the denitrification of soil and water brought on by certain anaerobic conditions particularly in wet tropical regions. Humans contribute with the use of nitrogenous fertilizers and with the combustion of fossil fuels and wood. Sewage treatment and animal waste management add to the mix.

Anthropogenic refers to human contributions to greenhouse gasses. The measurement of the amounts of these gasses in the atmosphere is a new area of study.

Carbon Monoxide is not a greenhouse gas but it does affect the mix. Nitrogen oxides are a major mix influence too. Sulphur Dioxide has been a major contributor to acid rain.

Vaporized water, surface ozone and halocarbons all play a part in the atmospheric soup. These again are not greenhouse gasses but a part of the overall mix. Restrictions on the use of halocarbons in the 1970's and 1980's have resulted in a reduction of their presence in the mix by the 1990's. HCFC's which serve as the industrial replacements are however on the rise.

Ecosystems are both connected and affected by climate, biochemical changes and geochemical changes. How these all work together remains a mystery but the detectives are hard at work.

The consensus is that since the beginning of the industrial revolution, human activities have greatly increased the mix of the big three greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Serious worldwide data gathering begin in the 1990's when the World Meteorological Organization set up its World Data Center for Green House Gasses in Japan.

The questions are myriad and the answers are not in yet. Just how do these gasses and their levels affect the earth? What can we do as humans to insure our generational survival? Think generationally, reduce the human contributions to the big three, study hard and learn much. We have a long way to go.Let's hope we are here to accomplish it.

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