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Environmental studies

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1. What are the three drivers for the energy discussions?
2. What is a greenhouse gas?
3. What are the top three main greenhouse gases?
4. Why are greenhouse gases expressed as CO2e?
5. Why aren't other greenhouse gases explicitly expressed?
6. In 2000, what was the approximate CO2e/y emissions for the U.S., China, and India?
7. What percentage of the total world-wide emissions do these represent (U.S., China, India)?
8. What are the major fossil fuels that contain high percentages of carbon?
9. Based on 2000 data, if China had the same CO2e/y per person as the U.S., approximately (a) what would be their total CO2e/y, (b) what percentage change is this, and (c) after this increase, what would the change in the world CO2e/y per person?
10. Predictions are that India's population is growing and will exceed China by 2020. (a) Based on
2000 data, if India increased their CO2e/y per person to U.S. levels, how much would the greenhouse gases per person increase? (b) If then India increased their population by 50%, what percentage of the total CO2e/y (based on 2000 levels) would India contribute world-wide?

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Solution Summary

Discuss the three drivers for the energy discussions, greenhouse gas, top three main greenhouse gases. Detailed explaination of why greenhouse gases are expressed as CO2e. Explanation of why other greenhouse gases aren't explicitly expressed. Compared the approximate CO2e/y emissions for the U.S., China, and India and analyzed what percentage of the total world-wide emissions do these represent (U.S., China, India). A review is held of what are the major fossil fuels that contain high percentages of carbon. Determine if China had the same CO2e/y per person as the U.S., approximately how it would effect their total CO2e/y. Based on the growing population of China determine how much would the greenhouse gases per person increase.

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1. What are the three drivers for the energy discussions?

The three drivers for the energy are fossil fuels, security of energy supply and climate change.

The discussion reveals a no win end. Fossil fuels are not renewable (log time renewable). The use has skyrocketed, maybe even peaked. The selfishness comes out when we say we want to keep all of our fossil fuels to ourselves because we need electricity. The carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels, is the biggest contributor to climate change. This is the very process that generates energy. It all boils down to needing addition ways to get energy.

2. What is a greenhouse gas?

Carbon Dioxide Concentrations are a greenhouse gas. Radiation is transmitted to the earth and is reflected (infrared radiation) back through the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases absorb this radiation and transmit it back to earth in various directions causing heat. These gases keep the air warm by not letting the infrared out.

3. What are the top three main greenhouse gases?

The top three greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.

4. Why are greenhouse gases expressed as CO2e?

Greenhouse gas is expressed as having the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide, or the same warming effect over a period of 100 years.

5. Why aren't other greenhouse gases explicitly expressed?

Each gas emission has different physical properties; some are more potent than others. Expressing as equivalent amount of carbon is a common unit used so that gas emission impacts can be directly compared.

6. In 2000, what were the approximate CO2e/y emissions for the U.S., China, and India?

The approximate CO2e/y per person for the United States is 24; China is 4; and India is 2

7. What percentage of the total world-wide emissions does these represent (U.S., China, India)?

The world total world emissions are 34 CO2e per year. Therefore, the approximate percentages are:
United States 71%; China 12%; India 6%

8. What are the major fossil fuels that contain high percentages of carbon?

Fossil fuels containing a high percentage of carbon are f carbon, include coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

9. Based on 2000 data, if China had the same CO2e/y per person as the U.S., approximately (a) what would be their total CO2e/y, (b) what percentage change is this, and (c) after this increase, what would the ...

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