Do you think that the Environmental Protection Agency should play a part in reducing global warming?

Carbon Dioxide and Global Warming

Over three quarters of the Earth's atmosphere is made up of nitrogen, and over one fifth is oxygen. Argon is third. However, it is the greenhouse gases - gases that strongly absorb long wave infrared radiation - that contribute to global warming. Of these, water is the most common (0.5%) in the atmosphere - though variable - followed by carbon dioxide (0.036%). Carbon dioxide is formed by a reaction between oxygen, which is plentiful in the atmosphere, and carbon. It is formed when we burn coal, for example. Oxygen and petrol (gasoline) react together to form water (H₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). Natural gas (mostly methane) reacts with oxygen to form water and carbon dioxide. Animals including humans breathe in oxygen which reacts with chemicals in the body to form carbon dioxide and water.

Scientists have been able to measure the amount of greenhouse gases there have been over many years by taking ice cores in the Antarctic and studying the gases trapped in each layer. The results show that the amount of (CO₂) has been increasing over the past 250 years, and that the rate of increase is itself increasing. This has been borne out since 1957 by direct measurements taken at the Mauna Loa climate observatory and more recent readings at Niwot Ridge, Colorado.

There are no known natural processes that can account for the rapid rise, but the industrial revolution can, along with deforestation. Transportation is one facet of that, and that is at the heart of one of today's news stories.

States Seek EPA Action on Greenhouse Gases

12 states and several cities have taken the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to a federal appeals court to try and get it to regulate heat-trapping greenhouse gases as air pollutants. Transport produces about a third of all U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. CO2 gets most of the blame for global warming.

The EPA takes the position that it does not have authority from Congress to regulate CO₂ emissions. The states believe that the gases should be regulated under the Clean Air Act.

Other News Stories

Mich. Urges Locals to Eat Invasive Plants

Michigan residents have been told that the invasive plant garlic mustard is edible, and are being urged to try eating it rather than throwing it away.

Ore. Compiles Most Unwanted Species List

Oregon's Department of Agriculture has compiled a list of the 100 least wanted species in the state, including feral swine, giant hogweed, gypsy moths, dead man's fingers, toxic cyanobacteria, and imported fire ant.

Maybe they should take a leaf out of Michigan's book and find uses for the species.

Do you think that the Environmental Protection Agency should play a part in reducing global warming?

[Views expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of CompuServe, the Forum or any government, agency or news organization. External Websites are "At Your Own Risk," and no endorsement is expressed or implied.]