the earth ✩

• acid rain


  rain that is acidic due to dissolved gases, such as sulphur dioxide, produced from the burning of fossil fuels. average acid rain ph level: 4.0
• carbon footprint

  the total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product, service of event
• environmental implication

  the effect that the activity has on the environment
• fossil fuels

  natural fuels such as coal and gas, formed in the past from the remains of living organisms
• global climate change

  a long-term shift in global climate patterns
• global dimming

  a gradual reduction in the amount of light reaching the Earth's surface. this can be caused by carbon particulates
• greenhouse effect


  greenhouse gases include water vapour, carbon dioxide and methane. greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trapping infrared radiation from the surface
• particulates


  particulates cause global dimming and health problems for humans. carbon particulates (soot) are a product of incomplete combustion
• photosynthesis

  oxygen was produced in the early atmosphere by photosynthesis of plants and algae. this simultaneously decreased the amount of carbon dioxide in the early atmosphere.
• photosynthesis equation - carbon dioxide + water -> glucose + oxygen

  A) 6

  B) 6

  C) 6

  
• pollutants

  a substance introduced into the environment that has undesired effects
• effects of global warming

  • increased average temperature
  • changes in climate (extreme weather patterns)
  • melting of ice caps
  • floodings
  • loss of natural habitats
  • decrease biodiversity
  • diseases spreading (e.g. malaria)
• solutions of global climate change

  • reduce, reuse, recycle!
  • carbon capture and storage underground (this can increase 10% the price of electricity)
  • plan-based diets reduce methane released from cows and also provides a more efficient use of the land (grows crops for human consumption instead of crops to feed farm animals). but! some crops like rice also release methane
• government measures

  • taxes on emission
  • support the use of renewable sources of energy and electricity
  • support the use of biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. these fuels produce carbon dioxide emissions but when growing the plants use carbon dioxide : carbon neutral
• it is possible to turn CO_2 back into useful chemical and fuels

  there is technology that just uses:

  water, electricity, and transition metal catalysts

  
  

  this can be used to transform CO_2 into some of the world's most critical chemical products
• microorganisms can be used to make fuels and materials

  • most biofuels are made from plants that are normally used to feel the world
  • if biofuels can be made from microorganisms, however, fewer crops will have to be diverted from food to fuels
• greenhouse gas keep temperatures high enough for life
• increasing CO_2 correlates with burning fossil fuels
• greenhouse gases absorb long wavelength radiation
• humans increase the amount of carbon dioxide and methane
• 1. energy from the Sun travels to the Earth as short wavelength radiation (UV). some are reflected back to space
  2. greenhouse gases let short wavelength radiation pass through
  3. then Earth cools down by emitting long wavelength radiation (infrared)
  4. however, greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation
  5. this energy radiated from surface of the Earth are trapped in the atmosphere
  6. this increases the temperature and keeps the temperature of the Earth warm