Thursday, June 21, 2012

Carbon Emissions Need To Be Monitored To Ensure Better Quality Air

By Miguel Rivera


Carbon emissions are caused by burning fossil fuels such as gas, coal or oil. When they burn the give off carbon dioxide which is typically absorbed by plants and trees. The problem lies in the increasing amount of these emissions that are being created. As deforestation continues to reduce the number of trees and plants the temperature of the Earth increases since more carbon dioxide is left unabsorbed.

The human population has been burning fossil fuels for thousands of years but the quantities in today's world are much larger than ever before. They are needed to be burned at several stages in the production of products, services and food. The expression carbon footprint is employed to define the entire amount of fossil fuels utilized on an ongoing basis. We hear this term daily in the news and media.

One way of measuring the amount of fossil fuels burned is to measure the amount of electricity and gas utilized in our homes and offices. To get a true picture of the amount used one should also calculate the amount of fuel consumed by our vehicles. For those who travel they should measure the number of flights and distances they have covered.

Methane is another gas that is emitted from burning fossil fuels. This group of gases is referred to as greenhouse carbons or hydro-carbons. One of the main causes for the heating of the ocean temperatures are hydro-carbons. The seriousness of the situation can easily be seen by looking at the melting ice floes and reduction of natural habitat for the animals that have evolved over the centuries in order to live in these climactic conditions.

Exploding economies are also the cause for a growing consumption in motor vehicles and construction of factories. Large cities like Shanghai have such poor air quality that residents are forced to wear masks to facilitate their breathing. It is becoming increasingly difficult to live and work in these kinds of environments.

The Asian economies have the largest populations in the world. Other countries have put the pressure on the leaders of these nations to find solutions for cleaner air. The population of 1.9 billion people still follows the traditional lifestyle of burning wood and coal so new ways of thinking need to be adopted.

Carbon emissions are increasing globally at an alarming rate. Millions are electing to ride bicycles or use electric vehicles to help in the reduction of fossil fuel emissions. More nations are being encouraged to explore ways to find less polluting ways to produce energy.




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