Strachan, Chelsea: Global Warming & Your Carbon Footprint
- Page ID
- 95455
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Chelsea Strachan
Global Climate Change
Chem 106
12/01/17
Our planet is in extreme danger and most people are not very concerned about climate change. Currently, Earth is experiencing a greenhouse effect. This happens when gases absorb radiation from the Sun when it reaches the atmosphere. This causes a “greenhouse” effect due to the rising temperatures from heat trapped by the gases. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and sulfur hexafluoride are the most important gases because they absorb the most radiation from the infared light. Although these gases exist in very small percentages, they do a lot of damage due to their incredible ability to absorb a major portion of the infared light.
Carbon has been identified as a major concern for environmentalists because it causes the most damage (or the greatest greenhouse effect). It has two types of cycles, daily and long-term. Like water, the carbon is continuously recycled throughout the oceans and the atmosphere. It begins with plants taking in carbon dioxide as energy and then it is released back into the atmosphere through death and expiration. Beneath the ocean floor, a long term carbon cycle is sustained and fossil fuels are created.
Currently, there is over 8000 million metric tons of carbon being emitted into the atmosphere. These emissions have changed drastically over the past 200 years. The Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center has determined that in the year 1900, a steady increase of carbon dioxide emissions began, from 500 tons to 1500 tons. Since 1950, there has been an extreme incline in rising rates of this greenhouse gas. Humans need to be held accountable for the tremendous consummation of fossil fuels. When these energy sources are burned, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at alarming rates. This damage can never truly be undone because carbon dioxide is a stable gas. This is a huge concern because research has shown that the sea level will continue to rise and future generations are in grave danger of extreme weather conditions.
Carbon dioxide is related to acidity because when it is combined with water, acid is created. If you get too much acid released into the ocean (through the natural carbon cycle) then it throws off the equilibrium. Ultimately, if the natural buffer environment is disturbed, certain minerals become depleted and organisms that depend on them for their survival, like coral, begin to die out. Another huge concern is the melting of giant masses of ice into the ocean. With rising sea levels and warming temperatures, there is greater chance for erratic, dangerous weather conditions.
“Clean” energy sources include solar power, wind power, biofuels from plant sources, and even tidal power from the ocean. Solar power seems to be the most promising because it doesn’t involve the burning of any coal or fossil fuel sources. It has the ability to last for a long time because solar panels don’t need batteries and electricity is the main result.
The carbon footprint for my household is 26.8 tons per year and the average footprint is 39.6 per year. In order to improve my carbon footprint, I can choose to travel less (less time on airplanes) and I can find fellow coworkers to carpool with at work. In my home, I can choose to limit the amount of beef I eat, choose local sources of food, and take shorter showers. Local is the key for shopping because trucks and planes cause a lot of fossil fuel usage. In order to bring more attention to the damaging effects of global warming, I can share these scientific articles with friends and colleagues in order to open up discussions. The more people know, the more they can do. If people actually start believing the science of global climate change, they will be more motivated to learn steps they can take in their daily lives to work towards saving the planet.
Individual Essay Submission 
Cut and paste your un-plagiarized essay of 250-500 words having 3 or more paragraphs into this private individual page below on or before midnight December 1st. Be sure to save your drafts off line and cut and paste the final version. Submissions will not be accepted after that time.
Once you have made a final submission, send Dr. R. an e-mail (rrusay@chemconnections.org) advising him that you have done so.
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