Water + Carbon Facts

• 71% of the Earth’s surface covered in water.
• Of all water, 97% is ocean, 3% is fresh water
• Of all fresh water, ice caps and glaciers 79%, ground water 20%, surface fresh water 1%
• Of surface fresh water, lakes 52%, soil moisture 38%, water vapour 8%, rivers 1%, organisms 1%
• water stored for longest in deep fossil aquifers - up to 10,000 years
• Rainforests can intercept 58% of rainfall
• Atmosphere - 0.04% CO2
• Atmospheric concentration of CO2 - 421 parts per million (ppm).

  Before industrial revolution - 280 ppm.
• Atmosphere contains 0.0017% of all carbon on earth.
• Human activity has caused CO₂ levels in the atmosphere to increase by 40% since industrial revolution. 
• Biosphere contains 0.0012% of all carbon on earth.
• 2 largest forest carbon stores in Russia (Boreal) (25%) and Amazon (20%)
• >99.9% carbon in carbonate rock deposits.
• 4000 billion tons of carbon remain as fossil fuels. 0.004% carbon stored. 
• Total carbon content in lithosphere - 20,000,000 Gt.
• Size of Carbon Stores

  • Atmosphere 600 Gt 
  • Oceans 38,000 Gt
  • Sedimentary rocks 60,000,000–100,000,000 Gt
• 200 million tonnes of carbon released/yr by volcanic eruptions.
• Greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels - 36.8 billion metric tons in 2023.

  91% of total CO2 emissions.
• Land Use Change:

  Accounts for a 10th of carbon release annually. 9% of total emissions. 
• Amazon - 70% deforestation for cattle ranching. 
• Rice production responsible for 12% of total methane global emissions.
• 44% (most) agricultural emissions from Asia.
• Deforestation accounts for about 20% of all global greenhouse emissions.
• Forests store up to 100x more CO2  than agricultural fields of same area.
• 1.5 bil tons of CO2 released every year due to removing and burning forest.
• 14,800 square miles of forest lost every year (size of Switzerland).
• As of April 2023, Amazon deforestation down 68% from year before, with 127 square miles destroyed. 
• Urban areas occupy 2% of the world’s land mass, but these areas account for 97% of all human caused global CO2 emissions.
• Cement manufacture contributes 7% to global carbon dioxide emissions each year.
• Over 50% of world population live in urban areas. Grow by 1.3 million people a week. 60% by 2030.
• Ocean acidity increased by 30% since pre-industrial times.
• global sea level rise – rates of 3.5 mm per year since early 1990s
• CO2 causes about 20% of the Earth’s greenhouse effect, water vapour about 50% and clouds 25%.
• CO2 contributes to around 65% of radiative forcing by greenhouse gases.
• Global emissions need to fall by 3% a year. 
• • Climate Change Act 2008 UK (National):
  • Legally binding target for the UK to reduce GHG emissions by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050 with a target of 26% by 2020 which has recently increased to 34%.
• CCS captures 90% of CO₂ produced, potential to capture half the world’s CO₂ emissions.
• CCS retrofitted in Boundary Dam power plant in Saskatchewan Canada.

  • $1.5 billion cost.
  • More economic sense to replace with more efficient gas plant - would have cut emissions at 5-10% of cost.
  • Planned capture 90% of emissions - actually only 45%.
  • Energy consumption to operate - 21%.
  • Only operates 40% of time. 
• emissions from lithium sourcing worse for climate than production of fossil fuel powered vehicles.
• Long-term/slow carbon cycle: Movement of carbon takes between 100 and 200 million years.