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Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet

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The Greenhouse Effect

Increasing Greenhouses Gases Are Warming the Planet

Scientists attribute the global warming trend observed since the mid-20 th century to the human expansion of the "greenhouse effect" ¹ - warming that results when the atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth toward space.

Life on Earth depends on energy coming from the Sun. About half the light energy reaching Earth's atmosphere passes through the air and clouds to the surface, where it is absorbed and radiated in the form of infrared heat. About 90% of this heat is then absorbed by greenhouse gases and re-radiated, slowing heat loss to space.

Gases that Contribute

The Role of Humans

Human Activity Is the Cause of Increased Greenhouse Gas Concentrations

Over the last century, burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil has increased the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO ₂). This increase happens because the coal or oil burning process combines carbon with oxygen in the air to make CO ₂. To a lesser extent, clearing of land for agriculture, industry, and other human activities has increased concentrations of greenhouse gases.

How do we know what greenhouse gas and temperature levels were in the distant past?

Ice cores are scientists' best source for historical climate data. Other tools for learning about Earth's ancient atmosphere include growth rings in trees, which keep a rough record of each growing season's temperature, moisture and cloudiness going back about 2,000 years. Corals also form growth rings that provide information about temperature and nutrients in the tropical ocean. Other proxies, such as benthic cores, extend our knowledge of past climate back about a billion years.

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The industrial activities that our modern civilization depends upon have raised atmospheric carbon dioxide levels by nearly 50% since 1750 ². This increase is due to human activities, because scientists can see a distinctive isotopic fingerprint in the atmosphere.

In its Sixth Assessment Report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, composed of scientific experts from countries all over the world, concluded thatit is unequivocal that the increase of CO ₂, methane, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere over the industrial era is the result of human activities and that human influence is the principal driver of many changes observed across the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere.

"Since systematic scientific assessments began in the 1970s, the influence of human activity on the warming of the climate system has evolved from theory to established fact."

- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

The panel's AR6 Working Group I (WGI) Summary for Policymakers report is online at https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/.

Is the Sun to Blame?

Evidence Shows That Current Global Warming Cannot Be Explained by Solar Irradiance

Scientists use a metric called Total Solar Irradiance (TSI) to measure the changes in energy the Earth receives from the Sun. TSI incorporates the 11-year solar cycle and solar flares/storms from the Sun's surface.

Studies show that solar variability has played a role in past climate changes. For example, a decrease in solar activity coupled with increased volcanic activity helped trigger the Little Ice Age.

The above graph compares global surface temperature changes (red line) and the Sun's energy that Earth receives (yellow line) in watts (units of energy) per square meter since 1880. The lighter/thinner lines show the yearly levels while the heavier/thicker lines show the 11-year average trends. Eleven-year averages are used to reduce the year-to-year natural noise in the data, making the underlying trends more obvious.

The amount of solar energy that Earth receives has followed the Sun's natural 11-year cycle of small ups and downs with no net increase since 1880. Over the same period, global temperature has risen markedly. It is therefore extremely unlikely that the Sun has caused the observed global temperature warming trend over the past half-century. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

But several lines of evidence show that current global warming cannot be explained by changes in energy from the Sun:

Since 1750, the average amount of energy from the Sun either remained constant or decreased slightly³.

If a more active Sun caused the warming, scientists would expect warmer temperatures in all layers of the atmosphere. Instead, they have observed a cooling in the upper atmosphere and a warming at the surface and lower parts of the atmosphere. That's because greenhouse gases are slowing heat loss from the lower atmosphere.

Climate models that include solar irradiance changes can't reproduce the observed temperature trend over the past century or more without including a rise in greenhouse gases.
References
References

1. IPCC 6 th Assessment Report, WG1, Summary for Policy Makers, Sections A, " The Current State of the Climate "

IPCC 6 th Assessment Report, WG1, Technical Summary, Sections TS.1.2, TS.2.1 and TS.3.1

2. P. Friedlingstein, et al., 2022: "Global Carbon Budget 2022", Earth System Science Data ( 11 Nov 2022): 4811-4900. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-4811-2022

3. IPCC 6 th Assessment Report, WG1, Chapter 2, Section 2.2.1, " Solar and Orbital Forcing"

IPCC 6 th Assessment Report, WG1, Chapter 7, Sections 7.3.4.4, 7.3.5.2, Figure 7.6, " Solar"

M. Lockwood and W.T. Ball, Placing limits on long-term variations in quiet-Sun irradiance and their contribution to total solar irradiance and solar radiative forcing of climate," Proceedings of the Royal Society A, 476, issue 2228 (24 June 2020): https://doi 10.1098/rspa.2020.0077

Header image credit: Pixabay/stevepb

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Vital Signs of the Planet: Global Climate Change and Global Warming. What is the "greenhouse effect"? What is causing it? Are humans to blame? What does solar irradiance have to do with it? Answers here.

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From smog hanging over cities to smoke inside the home, air pollution poses a major threat to health and climate.

Ambient (outdoor) air pollution in both cities and rural areas is causing fine particulate matter which result in strokes, heart diseases, lung cancer, acute and chronic respiratory diseases.

Additionally, around 2.4 billion people are exposed to dangerous levels of household air pollution, while using polluting open fires or simple stoves for cooking fuelled by kerosene, biomass (wood, animal dung and crop waste) and coal.

The combined effects of ambient air pollution and household air pollution is associated with 7 million premature deaths annually.

Sources of air pollution are multiple and context specific. The major outdoor pollution sources include residential energy for cooking and heating, vehicles, power generation, agriculture/waste incineration, and industry. Policies and investments that support sustainable land use, cleaner household energy and transport, energy-efficient housing, power generation, industry, and better municipal waste management can effectively reduce key sources of ambient air pollution.

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Air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year. WHO data shows that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. WHO is working with countries to monitor air pollution and improve air quality.

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Why the United States should end the usage of nonrenewable energy sources

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Why the United States should end the usage of nonrenewable energy sources

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What is nonrenewable energy, and how is it formed?

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What is nonrenewable energy, and how is it formed?

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Nonrenewable energy comes from sources that will run out or will not be replenished in our lifetimes-or even in many, many lifetimes.

Most nonrenewable energy sources are fossil fuels: coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Carbon is the main element in fossil fuels. For this reason, the time period that fossil fuels formed (about 360-300 million years ago) is called the Carboniferous Period.

All fossil fuels formed in a similar way. Hundreds of millions of years ago, even before the dinosaurs, Earth had a different landscape. It was covered with wide, shallow seas and swampy forests.

Plants, algae, and plankton grew in these ancient wetlands. They absorbed sunlight and created energy through photosynthesis. When they died, the organisms drifted to the bottom of the sea or lake. There was energy stored in the plants and animals when they died.

Over time, the dead plants were crushed under the seabed. Rocks and other sediment piled on top of them, creating high heat and pressure underground. In this environment, the plant and animal remains eventually turned into fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and petroleum). Today, there are huge underground pockets (called reservoirs) of these nonrenewable sources of energy all over the world.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Fossil fuels are a valuable source of energy. They are relatively inexpensive to extract. They can also be stored, piped, or shipped anywhere in the world.

However, burning fossil fuels is harmful to the environment. When coal and oil are burned, they release particles that can pollute the air, water, and land. Some of these particles are caught and set aside, but many of them are released into the air.

Burning fossil fuels also upsets Earth's "carbon budget," which balances the carbon in the ocean, earth, and air. When fossil fuels are combusted (heated), they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a gas that keeps heat in Earth's atmosphere, a process called the "greenhouse effect." The greenhouse effect is necessary to life on Earth, but relies on a balanced carbon budget.

The carbon in fossil fuels has been sequestered, or stored, underground for millions of years. By removing this sequestered carbon from the ground and releasing it into the atmosphere, Earth's carbon budget is out of balance. This contributes to temperatures rising faster than organisms can adapt.

Coal

Coal is a black or brownish rock. We burn coal to create energy. Coal is ranked depending on how much "carbonization" it has gone through. Carbonization is the process that ancient organisms undergo to become coal. About three meters (10 feet) of solid vegetation crushed together form 0.3 meter (one foot) of coal!

Peat is the lowest rank of coal. It has gone through the least amount of carbonization. It is an important fuel in areas of the world including Scotland, Ireland, and Finland.

Anthracite is the highest rank of coal. Anthracite forms in regions of the world where there have been giant movements of the earth, such as the formation of mountain ranges. The Appalachian Mountains, in the eastern part of the United States, are rich in anthracite.

We mine coal out of the ground so we can burn it for energy. There are two ways that we can mine coal: underground mining and surface mining.

Underground mining is used when the coal is located below the surface of Earth, sometimes 300 meters (1,000 feet) deep-that's deeper than most of the Great Lakes! Miners take an elevator down a mineshaft. They operate heavy machinery that cuts the coal out, and brings it above ground. This can be dangerous work because cutting coal can release dangerous gases. The gases can cause explosions or make it hard for miners to breathe.

Surface mining is used when the coal is located very near the surface of the planet. To get to the coal, companies must first clear the area. They take away the trees and soil. The coal can then be cut out of the ground more easily. Entire habitats are destroyed during this process.

Almost 20 percent the electricity in the United States comes from coal. It gives power to our lights, refrigerators, dishwashers, and most other things we plug in. When coal is burned, it leaves "byproducts" that are also valuable. We use the byproducts to make cement, plastics, roads, and many other things.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Coal is a reliable source of energy. We can rely on it day and night, summer and winter, sunshine or rain, to provide fuel and electricity.

Using coal is also harmful. Mining is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Coal miners are exposed to toxic dust and face the dangers of cave-ins and explosions at work.

When coal is burned, it releases many toxic gases and pollutants into the atmosphere. Mining for coal can also cause the ground to cave in and create underground fires that burn for decades at a time.

Petroleum

Petroleum is a liquid fossil fuel. It is also called oil or crude oil.

Petroleum is trapped by underground rock formations. In some places, oil bubbles right out of the ground. At the LaBrea Tar Pits, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., big pools of thick oil bubble up through the ground. Remains of animals that got trapped there thousands of years ago are still preserved in the tar!

Most of the world's oil is still deep under the ground. We drill through the earth to access the oil. Some deposits are on land, and others are under the ocean floor.

Once oil companies begin drilling with a "drill rig," they can extract petroleum 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Many successful oil sites produce oil for about 30 years. Sometimes they can produce oil for much longer.

When oil is under the ocean floor, companies drill offshore. They must build an oil platform. Oil platforms are some of the biggest artificial structures in the world!

Once the oil has been drilled, it must be refined. Oil contains many chemicals besides carbon, and refining the oil takes some of these chemicals out.

We use oil for many things. About half the world's petroleum is converted into gasoline. The rest can be processed and used in liquid products such as nail polish and rubbing alcohol, or solid products such as water pipes, shoes, crayons, roofing, vitamin capsules, and thousands of other items.
Advantages and Disadvantages
There are advantages to drilling for oil. It is relatively inexpensive to extract. It is also a reliable and dependable source of energy and money for the local community.

Oil provides us with thousands of conveniences. In the form of gasoline, it is a portable source of energy that gives us the power to drive places. Petroleum is also an ingredient in many items that we depend on.

However, burning gasoline is harmful to the environment. It releases hazardous gases and fumes into the air we breathe. There is also the possibility of an oil spill. If there is a problem with the drilling machinery, the oil can explode out of the well and spill into the ocean or surrounding land. Oil spills are environmental disasters, especially offshore spills. Oil floats on water, so it can look like food to fish and ruin birds' feathers.

Natural Gas

Natural gas is another fossil fuel that is trapped underground in reservoirs. It is mostly made up of methane. You may have smelled methane before. The decomposing material in landfills also release methane, which smells like rotten eggs.

There is so much natural gas underground that it is measured in millions, billions, or trillions of cubic meters.

Natural gas is found in deposits a few hundred meters underground. In order to get natural gas out of the ground, companies drill straight down. However, natural gas does not form in big open pockets. Natural gas is trapped in rock formations that can stretch for kilometers.

To reach natural gas, some companies use a process called "hydraulic fracturing," or fracking. Hydraulic means they use water, and fracturing means to "split apart." The process uses high-pressure water to split apart the rocks underground. This releases the natural gas that is trapped in rock formations. If the rock is too hard, they can send acid down the well to dissolve the rock. They can also use tiny grains of glass or sand to prop open the rock and let the gas escape.

We use natural gas for heating and cooking. Natural gas can also be burned to generate electricity. We rely on natural gas to give power to lights, televisions, air conditioners, and kitchen appliances in our homes.

Natural gas can also be turned into a liquid form, called liquid natural gas (LNG). LNG is much cleaner than any other fossil fuels.

Liquid natural gas takes up much less space than the gaseous form. The amount of natural gas that would fit into a big beach ball would fit into a ping-pong ball as a liquid! LNG can be easily stored and used for different purposes. LNG can even be a replacement for gasoline.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Natural gas is relatively inexpensive to extract, and is a "cleaner" fossil fuel than oil or coal. When natural gas is burned, it only releases carbon dioxide and water vapor (which are the exact same gases that we breathe out when we exhale!) This is healthier than burning coal.

However, extracting natural gas can cause environmental problems. Fracturing rocks can cause mini-earthquakes. The high-pressure water and chemicals that are forced underground can also leak to other sources of water. The water sources, used for drinking or bathing, can become contaminated and unsafe.

Other Nonrenewable Energy Sources

Fossil fuels are the leading nonrenewable energy sources around the world. There are others, however.

Nuclear energy is usually considered another nonrenewable energy source. Although nuclear energy itself is a renewable energy source, the material used in nuclear power plants is not.

Nuclear energy harvests the powerful energy in the nucleus, or core, of an atom. Nuclear energy is released through nuclear fission, the process where the nucleus of an atom splits. Nuclear power plants are complex machines that can control nuclear fission to produce electricity.

The material most often used in nuclear power plants is the element uranium. Although uranium is found in rocks all over the world, nuclear power plants usually use a very rare type of uranium, U-235. Uranium is a nonrenewable resource.

Nuclear energy is a popular way of generating electricity around the world. Nuclear power plants do not pollute the air or emit greenhouse gases. They can be built in rural or urban areas, and do not destroy the environment around them.

However, nuclear energy is difficult to harvest. Nuclear power plants are very complicated to build and run. Many communities do not have the scientists and engineers to develop a safe and reliable nuclear energy program.

Nuclear energy also produces radioactive material. Radioactive waste can be extremely toxic, causing burns and increasing the risk for cancers, blood diseases, and bone decay among people who are exposed to it.

Biomass energy, a renewable energy source, can also be a nonrenewable energy source.

Biomass energy uses the energy found in plants. Biomass energy relies on biomass feedstocks-plants that are processed and burned to create electricity. Biomass feedstocks can include crops such as corn or soy, as well as wood. If people do not replant biomass feedstocks as fast as they use them, biomass energy becomes a nonrenewable energy source.

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Nonrenewable energy comes from sources that will eventually run out, such as oil and coal.

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Advantages and disadvantages of nonrenewable energy

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Advantages and disadvantages of nonrenewable energy

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Non-renewable energy, also known as nonrenewable energy, is a limited resource that will eventually deplete over time. It is crucial to understand and responsibly utilise non-renewable energy sources. Non-renewable energy encompasses fossil fuels like coal, crude oil and natural gas. This article will delve into various aspects of non-renewable energy resources, including types, examples, advantages and disadvantages. We will also explore the characteristics and implications of non-renewable energy, shedding light on its finite nature and the need for responsible utilisation.

What is Non-renewable Energy?

Non-renewable energy is energy sources that exist in finite quantities and cannot be naturally replenished or regenerated. These energy resources are formed through natural processes, such as the decomposition of organic matter or the nuclear reactions occurring in the Earth's core. Non-renewable energy plays a significant role in meeting our current energy demands but poses challenges due to its finite nature and environmental impact.

Non-renewable energy has been the backbone of modern industrialization and has fueled economic growth for centuries. However, the finite nature of these resources calls for the exploration and development of sustainable alternatives, such as renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

Non-renewable Energy Resources

Non-renewable resources primarily consist of fuels derived from fossil deposits. Let's explore some of the most commonly utilised non-renewable energy sources:

Coal

Coal has long been a significant contributor to non-renewable energy production. Coal is formed from ancient plants' remains and extracted from underground mines or surface mining methods. It is widely used in electricity generation and industrial processes, making it a prominent non-renewable energy resource.

Petroleum Products

Petroleum products are another essential component of non-renewable energy sources derived from crude oil. Crude oil is extracted from underground reservoirs and refined into various products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and heating oil.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

CNG is sourced from natural gas reserves and compressed for use in vehicles, particularly in transportation fleets and as a fuel for natural gas power plants. CNG is gaining popularity due to its lower emissions and cost-effectiveness.

These non-renewable energy sources provide a significant portion of our energy needs. However, it is important to recognize their finite nature and explore alternative energy options to ensure a sustainable future.

Types of Non-renewable Energy

Non-renewable energy primarily consists of fossil fuels and nuclear fuels. Let's explore each of these types in detail:

Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals that underwent a process of decomposition over millions of years. They are categorized into three main types:
Natural Gas
Natural gas is a gaseous fossil fuel composed mainly of methane. It is often found in association with oil deposits. Natural gas is a versatile energy source used for heating, cooking, electricity generation, and as a fuel for vehicles.
Coal
Coal is a solid fossil fuel that forms when plant material, such as trees, plants, and ferns, undergoes decomposition under high pressure and heat over millions of years. It is primarily used for electricity generation in power plants and is known for its significant carbon content.
Oil
Oil is a liquid fossil fuel that results from the decomposition of smaller organisms like zooplankton and algae, which were subjected to immense pressure over time. Oil is a crucial energy resource used in transportation, manufacturing, and producing various petrochemical products.

Nuclear Fuels

Nuclear fuels are utilised in nuclear power plants, where energy is generated through nuclear fission. The most commonly used nuclear fuel is uranium, found in the Earth's crust in relatively low concentrations. Uranium undergoes fission reactions, releasing large amounts of energy.

Understanding the significance of both fossil fuels and nuclear fuels as non-renewable energy sources is important. While they have played a crucial role in meeting our energy demands, their extraction, use, and environmental impact must be carefully managed.

Advantages of Non-renewable energy

Non-renewable sources of energy, such as diesel and oil, are known for their affordability, making them accessible to a wide range of applications.

Non-renewable energy sources offer ease of accessibility and compatibility with existing infrastructure.

These energy sources are relatively easy to store, providing convenience in meeting energy demands.

Disadvantages of Non-renewable energy

Non-renewable energy is finite in nature, once depleted, it cannot be replenished.

The by-products generated from non-renewable energy production contribute to environmental damage and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

The transportation, mining, and extraction activities associated with non-renewable energy sources can result in accidents such as oil spills, nuclear meltdowns, pipeline leaks, and explosions, causing severe harm to the environment.

Environmental Impact of Non-renewable Energy

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Burning non-renewable energy sources, particularly fossil fuels, releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Air Pollution

Non-renewable energy production and consumption result in the emission of air pollutants leading to poor air quality and adverse health effects.

Water Pollution

The extraction and utilisation of non-renewable energy resources through coal mining leads to water pollution. Spills, leaks, and improper waste disposal can contaminate water sources.

Land Degradation

Extracting non-renewable resources involves land disturbance, deforestation, and soil erosion.

Conservation of Non-renewable Energy

Here are several reasons why there is a need to conserve non-renewable energy:

Finite Resource

Non-renewable energy sources are limited in supply and will eventually run out. By conserving these resources, we can prolong their availability for future generations.

Environmental Impact

Non-renewable energy production and consumption have significant ecological consequences. By conserving non-renewable energy, we can reduce these negative impacts.

Climate Change Mitigation

Non-renewable energy sources are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.. Conserving non-renewable energy is crucial in mitigating climate change.

In summary, conserving non-renewable energy is essential to ensure long-term resource availability, minimise environmental impacts and mitigate climate change.

Watch the video to find out why it is so important to conserve fossil fuels and use them wisely.

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Non-renewable Energy - Types, Advantages, Disadvantages, Conservation

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Discover non-renewable energy, including coal, petroleum products, and CNG. Explore fossil fuels, nuclear fuels, their pros and cons, and the environmental impact. Learn about the importance of conserving non-renewable energy.