Environmental Emissions: An Introduction

By Author: Scott Lintern
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The releasing of gaseous substances into air is known as environment emissions as a result of combustion, manufacturing, and natural waste and other processes. Environment emissions are now regarded as a matter of conscious as they are classified as greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared range and contribute to the increasing of the heating of the earth. Because of these the climate of the earth is changing. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone are the main greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere.

Carbon Dioxide emissions are the most common environment emission. Methane and Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) emissions are some other environmental emissions.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Through the carbon cycle and human activities like the burning of oil, coal and gas, and deforestation Carbon Dioxide Emissions are produced. But the carbon dioxide that is emitted from the carbon circle has a very little effect. Billions of tons of carbon dioxide are removed from the atmosphere, known as ‘sinks', by oceans and growing plants. ...
... But these carbons are emitted back into the atmosphere through natural processes, known as ‘sources'. Because of these processes there is a balance as the total carbon dioxide emissions and removals from the entire carbon cycle are roughly equal.

The carbon emission that is occurred through human activities can't be equaled through any natural process and this unequalled carbon has very bad effect upon the environment. Since the Industrial Revolution in 1700's carbon emissions have increased. Now carbon is 35% higher than it was before the Industrial Revolution. Carbon Dioxide Emissions are responsible for about 80% of the problems related to Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Methane Emissions

Methane emissions are another source of environmental emissions. Methane is emitted from human activities, fossil fuel production, animal husbandry, rice cultivation, biomass burning, and waste management, and natural sources, wetlands, gas hydrates, permafrost, termites, oceans, freshwater bodies, non-wetland soils, and other sources such as wildfires. More than 60 percent of global methane emissions are related to human-related activities.

Methane emission can vary from one country or region to another because it depends upon many factors such as climate, industrial and agricultural production characteristics, energy types and usage, and waste management practices. For example, one of the key biological processes that cause methane emissions in both human-related and natural sources is anaerobic digestion process upon which temperature and moisture have a significant effect. To capture and utilize methane from sources such as landfills, coal mines, and manure management systems different technologies are implemented which affect the emission levels from these sources.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Emissions

CFCs, chlorine, bromine, fluorine et., are man-maid products. It could be found in aerosol canned products as hairspray and deodorant and house hold products like AC, fridge, washing machine etc. CFCs contribute in environment emissions by depleting the ozone layer. Both chlorine and bromine act to destroy ozone, but bromine acts about 45 times more effectively to do so. To recover the ozone layer we have to reduce the CFCs level from the environment.

Reducing environmental emissions totally is impossible but it can be minimized. Minimizing it becomes a must. Otherwise the world will face a gigantic and mortal effect.

About Author:

Scott Lintern from Western Air Ducts writes about Environmental Emissions. For more information on Environmental Emissions please visit www.wad.co.uk