scholarly journals The role of HFCs in mitigating 21st century climate change

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6083-6089 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Xu ◽  
D. Zaelke ◽  
G. J. M. Velders ◽  
V. Ramanathan
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Global Warming Potential ◽  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Global Demand ◽  
Carbon Aerosols

Abstract. There is growing international interest in mitigating climate change during the early part of this century by reducing emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), in addition to reducing emissions of CO2. The SLCPs include methane (CH4), black carbon aerosols (BC), tropospheric ozone (O3) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Recent studies have estimated that by mitigating emissions of CH4, BC, and O3 using available technologies, about 0.5 to 0.6 °C warming can be avoided by mid-21st century. Here we show that avoiding production and use of high-GWP (global warming potential) HFCs by using technologically feasible low-GWP substitutes to meet the increasing global demand can avoid as much as another 0.5 °C warming by the end of the century. This combined mitigation of SLCPs would cut the cumulative warming since 2005 by 50% at 2050 and by 60% at 2100 from the CO2-only mitigation scenarios, significantly reducing the rate of warming and lowering the probability of exceeding the 2 °C warming threshold during this century.

scholarly journals Avoiding HFC growth is critical for keeping global warming below 2 °C during the 21st century

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 32613-32629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Xu ◽  
D. Zaelke ◽  
G. J. M. Velders ◽  
V. Ramanathan
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Global Warming Potential ◽  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Global Demand ◽  
Carbon Aerosols ◽  
Black Carbon Aerosols

Abstract. There is growing international interest in mitigating climate change during the early part of this century by reducing emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), in addition to reducing emissions of CO2. The SLCPs include methane (CH4), black carbon aerosols (BC), tropospheric ozone (O3) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Recent studies have estimated that by mitigating emissions of CH4, BC, and O3 using available technologies, about 0.5 to 0.6 °C warming can be avoided by mid-21st century. Here we show that avoiding production and use of high-GWP (global warming potential) HFCs by using technologically feasible low-GWP substitutes to meet the increasing global demand can avoid as much as another 0.5 °C warming by end of the century, therefore significantly reducing the rate of warming and lowering the probability of exceeding the 2 °C warming threshold during this century.

Methane Cycling and Climate

2019 ◽  
pp. 159-175
Author(s):  
Han Dolman
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Global Warming Potential ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Organic Material ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Soil Matrix ◽  
Sources And Sinks ◽  
Anthropogenic Perturbation

The chapter describes the mechanisms by which methane is produced in anaerobic environments. Various methane sources and sinks, both natural (e.g. wetlands) and anthropogenic (e.g. landfills, agriculture, fires), are described. The decomposition of organic material in the soil is described as a continuum within the soil matrix, rather than a separation into labile and stable pools. The different pathways of methane production under anaerobic conditions—the acetate pathway and the hydrogen pathway—are described. The roles of wetlands, water bodies, permafrost and clathrate in storing and emitting methane are elucidated. At the geological scale, the chapter discusses the role of methane as a greenhouse gas in providing a habitable climate under a fainter sun (the faint sun paradox), in glacial–interglacial transitions and in the current anthropogenic perturbation. Future methane emissions, global warming potential and the sensitivity of the important methane stores to climate change are also discussed.

scholarly journals Sustainable Water Flows in Era of Climate Change

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepika Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Management ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Energy Requirements ◽  
Precipitation Pattern ◽  
Sustainable Water Management ◽  
Groundwater Availability ◽  
Water Flows ◽  
Surface Water Flow

The flow of water in rivers is of paramount importance to maintain supply of food and energy requirements to a great extent. The minimum flow in perennial rivers is subjected to groundwater availability, it is further replenished by the water added through precipitation. Climate change not only increases the melting of glaciers and sea level rise, but also influences the surface water flow and quality. As agriculture is directly affected by changing precipitation pattern, the reduction in water resources and untimely addition of water, both act havoc to the food production process. This interconnection makes agriculture even more vulnerable to the scenarios of global warming and climate change. Studies on food-energy-water nexus has opened new avenues of research in sustainable water management. The role of sustainable flow of water in rivers is highlighted which needs to be understood in era of climate change.

scholarly journals Climate Change and Aerosol Sciences

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Kehan Li
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Environmental Policy ◽  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Atmospheric Aerosols ◽  
Environmental Policies ◽  
Modern Times

Climate change is of great importance in modern times and global warming is considered as a significant part of climate change. It is proved that human’s emissions such as greenhouse gases are one of the main sources of global warming (IPCC, 2018). Apart from greenhouse gases, there is another kind of matter being released in quantity via emissions from industries and transportations and playing an important role in global warming, which is aerosol. However, atmospheric aerosols have the net effect of cooling towards global warming. In this paper, climate change with respect to global warming is briefly introduced and the role of aerosols in the atmosphere is emphasized. Besides, properties of aerosols including dynamics and thermodynamics of aerosols as well as interactions with solar radiation are concluded. In the end, environmental policies and solutions are discussed. Keywords: Climate change, Global warming, Atmospheric aerosols, Particulate matter, Radiation, Environmental policy.

scholarly journals Role of volcanic forcing on future global carbon cycle

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-159
Author(s):  
J. F. Tjiputra ◽  
O. H. Otterå
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Cycle ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Carbon Uptake ◽  
Carbon Cycle Model ◽  
Large Volcanic Eruptions

Abstract. Using a fully coupled global climate-carbon cycle model, we assess the potential role of volcanic eruptions on future projection of climate change and its associated carbon cycle feedback. The volcanic-like forcings are applied together with business-as-usual IPCC-A2 carbon emissions scenario. We show that very large volcanic eruptions similar to Tambora lead to short-term substantial global cooling. However, over a long period, smaller but more frequent eruptions, such as Pinatubo, would have a stronger impact on future climate change. In a scenario where the volcanic external forcings are prescribed with a five-year frequency, the induced cooling immediately lower the global temperature by more than one degree before return to the warming trend. Therefore, the climate change is approximately delayed by several decades and by the end of the 21st century, the warming is still below two degrees when compared to the present day period. The cooler climate reduces the terrestrial heterotrophic respiration in the northern high latitude and increases net primary production in the tropics, which contributes to more than 45% increase in accumulated carbon uptake over land. The increased solubility of CO2 gas in seawater associated with cooler SST is offset by reduced CO2 partial pressure gradient between ocean and atmosphere, which results in small changes in net ocean carbon uptake. Similarly, there is nearly no change in the seawater buffer capacity simulated between the different volcanic scenarios. Our study shows that even in the relatively extreme scenario where large volcanic eruptions occur every five-years period, the induced cooling only leads to a reduction of 46 ppmv atmospheric CO2 concentration as compared to the reference projection of 878 ppmv, at the end of the 21st century. With respect to sulphur injection geoengineering method, our study suggest that small scale but frequent mitigation is more efficient than the opposite. Moreover, the longer we delay, the more difficult it would be to counteract climate change.

Climate Change Law: Encounters with Aesthetics and Art

Climate Law ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 279-319
Author(s):  
Benjamin J. Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Law And Policy ◽  
The Social ◽  
Political Struggles ◽  
The Aesthetic ◽  
Aesthetic Values

Climate change has multifaceted aesthetic dimensions of legal significance. Global warming alters the aesthetic properties of nature, and further aesthetic changes are precipitated by climate mitigation and adaptation responses of impacted societies. The social and political struggles to influence climate change law are also influenced by aesthetics, as environmental activists and artists collaborate to influence public opinion, while conversely the business sector through its marketing and other aesthetic communications tries to persuade consumers of its climate-friendly practices to forestall serious action on global warming. This article distils and analyses these patterns in forging a novel account of the role of aesthetics in climate change law and policy, and it makes conclusions on how this field of law should consider aesthetic values through ‘curatorial’ guidance.

scholarly journals Role of Landfill Cover in Reducing Methane Emission

2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 115-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yucheng Cao ◽  
Ewelina Staszewska
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Methane Oxidation ◽  
Landfill Gas ◽  
Oxidation Potential ◽  
Landfill Cover ◽  
High Fraction ◽  
Engineered Landfill

Abstract Uncontrolled emissions of landfill gas may contribute significantly to climate change, since its composition represents a high fraction of methane, a greenhouse gas with 100- year global warming potential 25 times that of carbon dioxide. Landfill cover could create favourable conditions for methanotrophy (microbial methane oxidation), an activity of using bacteria to oxidize methane to carbon dioxide. This paper presents a brief review of methanotrophic activities in landfill cover. Emphasis is given to the effects of cover materials, environmental conditions and landfill vegetation on the methane oxidation potential, and to their underlying effect mechanisms. Methanotrophs communities and methane oxidation kinetics are also discussed. Results from the overview suggest that well-engineered landfill cover can substantially increase its potential for reducing emissions of methane produced in landfill to the atmosphere.

scholarly journals The impact of elite frames and motivated reasoning on beliefs in a global warming conspiracy: The promise and limits of trust

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 205316801771760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle L Saunders
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Motivated Reasoning ◽  
Anthropogenic Global Warming ◽  
The Face ◽  
Conspiracy Beliefs ◽  
Original Question ◽  
Behavioral Impact ◽  
The Impact

Given the potential attitudinal and behavioral impact of Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW) conspiracy beliefs, it is important to understand their causes and moderators. Here, two explanations for the variation in these beliefs are engaged: the first is the choice among elites to frame AGW using the phrase ‘global warming’ (GW) as opposed to ‘climate change’ (CC); the second is partisan motivated reasoning. A theory is then developed about the role of trust in moderating the impact of the two frames on AGW conspiracy beliefs. In the case of CC, which is perceived as less severe than GW (and is therefore less identity threatening among Republicans), it is hypothesized that trust will moderate hoax beliefs among Republicans. In the case of GW, where the implications of existence beliefs have policy consequences that are more unpleasant, motivated reasoning will ‘win out’, and trust will not moderate conspiracy endorsement among Republicans. The results from an original question framing experiment are consistent with the author’s hypotheses. Whilst trust is a welcome commodity to those looking to persuade citizens to support AGW-ameliorating policies, it is not a cure-all, especially in the face of elite partisan cues that edify pre-existing attitudes/identities and arouse a strong desire to engage in motivated reasoning.

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