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Sunday, July 7, 2019

Greenhouse Gases: More Than CO2...

Carbon dioxide is what we commonly associate with global warming. Methane, that breaks down into CO2 after 8 years, is gaining in popular notoriety (one ton of methane emitted to the atmosphere is equivalent to 34 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions). Currently, a third greenhouse gas is beginning to be recognized by John Q. Public as, also, being a significant contributor to ‘artificially induced climate change’— a single ton of nitrous oxide is equivalent to 298 tons of carbon dioxide and has a atmospheric lifetime of 110 years , and the process that removes nitrous oxide from the atmosphere also depletes ozone. So, nitrous oxide is not only a greenhouse gas, but also an ozone destroyer. [Note: Even though ozone is a greenhouse gas, it protects us from UV radiation and is, therefore, essential for our survival. Thus, the importance of curtailing nitrous oxide emissions. Oops! Nitrous oxide is released during the use of artificial fertilizer which our overpopulated world depends on for food production. Catch 22!]

Even more greenhouse gases:
https://www.thoughtco.com/worst-greenhouse-gases-606789

https://news.berkeley.edu/2012/04/02/fertilizer-use-responsible-for-increase-in-nitrous-oxide-in-atmosphere/

http://theconversation.com/the-ground-exhales-reducing-agricultures-greenhouse-gas-emissions-40795

Realizing that natural sources of nitrous oxide are a part of the natural nitrogen cycle, google
“anthropogenic sources nitrous oxide” for the not natural and problematic sources.