Greenhouse gas (GHG) is a currency. GHG traps heat in the atmosphere, causing global warming. Every decision individuals and governments make in the future requires us to carefully weigh the GHG impact.
In a balanced ecosystem, trees, plants, soil and the ocean, absorb all the CO2 naturally generated on Earth. Natural sources of CO2 are decomposing biomass, forest fires, volcanoes, and yes flatulence from ruminant animals.
Today we are out of balance.
Humans add more CO2 and other GHGs to the atmosphere than the Earth’s ecosystem can absorb. The excess GHGs create a blanket in the atmosphere that serves the same purpose as greenhouse windows. The sun’s heat can come in, but it can’t get out. The gas suspended in the atmosphere fouls the Earth’s cooling system.
The Earth is getting warmer. As a result there is more water vapor in the atmosphere. Water is mass, which stores the heat. Heat is energy. The energy is dissipated in powerful destructive storms.
The Ocean is a major player in the ecosystem. It too is warming, which is causing profound changes.
Click Here for a Climate Change Timeline.
The Industrial Revolution started in the mid 18th century. The invention of the coal fired steam engine ushered in the burning of fossil fuels to do work. During the last half of the 18th century, the invention of machinery transforms the economy and improved the standard of living. In 1882, the first commercial power plant went online to provide electricity for the residents of New York City.
In 1820, the first scholarly articles theorizing the greenhouse effect were published in science journals. GHG in the atmosphere traps heat, causing a warming of the entire planet. The primary sources of GHG are electricity production, heat and transportation. CO₂, Methane and Ozone are the worst GHGs, in that order.
What is the “1.5°C Tipping Point” about?
In 2015, 159 nations ratified the Paris Agreement, a commitment to change behavior and consumption to try to halt the warming at 2.7 degrees F (1.5 degrees C) above Earth’s average temperature before the Industrial Age.
Greenhouse Gas 1880-2020 (climate.nasa.gov)
Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (epa.gov)
What does ppm (parts per million) mean?