Anthropogenic Sources of Atmospheric Methane Essay -- Geology

Anthropogenic Sources of Atmospheric Methane Introduction The atmosphere has always contained the Greenhouse Gas methane. Along with carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and water vapor, methane helps to create the natural greenhouse effect. These gases trap some of the sun's energy and keep the Earth at a warm enough temperature to sustain life. If the occurrence of any of these gases in the atmosphere is increased, the natural greenhouse effect will intensify and further warm the Earth. Due to man's activities, the amount of atmospheric methane has more than doubled since pre-industrial times. It could double 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 Warming Methane is the second largest contributor to potential global warming (carbon dioxide being the first). Methane is an extremely powerful greenhouse gas, and it increases the greenhouse effect in two ways. Firstly, it absorbs infrared radiation well, making it twenty times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Secondly, increased amounts of methane increases the amount of water vapor in the stratosphere, further trapping heat. Another characteristic of methane relative to global warming is its staying power: the methane released today could still trap heat more than a decade from now. Its concentration in the atmosphere is rising annually. Landfills The largest source of methane emissions in the United States are landfills. Landfill gas, which is mainly composed of methane and carbon dioxide, is the result of the anaerobic decomposition of ... ... it and use it for our benefit. Sources: Pipkin. Recent Climate Change. http://madmonster.williams.edu/geol.103/04-Climates2.html, Fall 1996 EPA. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Methane. http://www.epa.gov/oppeoee1/globalwarming/inventory/1998-inv/methane.html, April 7, 1998 World Meteorological Organization. Scientists Support IPCC Global Warming Conclusion, Call for Quick Action. http://www.voyagepub.com/stories/0996cli2.htm , Summer 1996 EPA. Climate Change: Methane and other Greenhouse Gases. http://www.epa.gov/outreach/ghginfo/reports.htm Global Warming is Happening. http://www.enviroweb.org/edf/ishappening/ishappening_frameset.html. copyright 1997 Methane (CH4). http://global.phy.pdx.edu/sarah/CH4.html Michael Franklin. Trash Can Be Turned Into Energy Source. http://www.dfpress.com/science/0422972.html, April 1997