Greenhouse Gases Greenhouse gases are those gases that trap the heat of the sun within the earth's atmosphere producing the "greenhouse effect," which warms the earth's surface. The main gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect are carbon dioxide and water vapor. Other greenhouse gases include methane, ozone, chlorofluorocarbons, nitrous oxide, and sulfur hexafluoride. The increase in the production of greenhouse gases has exacerbated heating within the atmosphere and the acceleration of global climate change. photo source photo source

Did You Know? photo source According to the U.N's FAO report, the world's cattle herds give off more greenhouse gasses than ALL the "planes and other forms of transport put together." (18% versus 13.5% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions as measured in CO2 equivalents). The primary reason is the enormous volume of methane, the second most prominent greenhouse gas, which is emitted as a result of livestocks' unique enteric fermentation digestive system. According to the EPA, methane is 21 times stronger than CO2 over a 100 year period. The world's livestock also creates 65% of human-related nitrous oxide (296 times stronger than CO2 over 100 years) and 64% of ammonia, which are the major sources of acid rain (which leads to deforestation). The world's rice fields emit more methane than any other crop. According to the EPA, landfills are the largest source of methane in the U.S. Related WiserEarth Portals Air Quality and Pollution Acid Rain Alternative Fuels Climate Change Composting Consumption and Green Consumers Emissions Trading Ecological Footprint Environmental Law and Policy Energy Policy Industrial Ecology Fossil Fuels Global Beef Industry Global Food Supply and Sustainability Global Pollution Global Wood Products Industry Human Population Growth and Impacts Ozone Layer Pollution Remediation Pollution Prevention and Reduction Renewable Energy Sustainable Building Sustainable Energy Development Tropical Moist Forests Waste Management

Featured Organizations The Climate Group is an international charity working to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the principal cause of climate change/global warming International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme is an international collaborative research programme. IEA GHG focuses its efforts on studying technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. COOLmob is a community project to help Darwin and Palmerston households save greenhouse gas emissions. COOLmob households have already saved 1000 tonnes of CO2 - that's enough to fill the NT Parliament House 24 times! Greenhouse Gases Discussion photo source Join the discussion forums to discuss and exchange ideas about Greenhouse Gases Links and Resources The Potential of US Forest Soils to Sequester Carbon and Mitigate the Greenhouse Effect In a mature forest ecosystem, soil is as important a carbon sink as the above-ground biomass.. As increasing numbers of forests are managed in a wide diversity of climates and soils, the potential importance of forest soils for carbon sequestration grows. Organic Agriculture Yields New Weapon Against Global Warming - The Rodale Institute's groundbreaking Farming Systems Trial®, the world's longest running study of organic farming, has documented that organic soils actually scrub the atmosphere of global warming gases by capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide and converting it into soil material. This is the first study to differentiate organic farming techniques from conventional agricultural practices for their ability to serve as carbon "sinks." Greenhouse Gas Online provide a freely available and up to date resource dedicated to greenhouse gas news and scientific publications. Policy Implications of Greenhouse Gasses describes the information necessary to make decisions about global warming resulting from atmospheric releases of radiatively active trace gases. photo source

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Keywords:
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