Applications of Chemical Kinetics in Environmental Systems - Elements of Environmental Engineering: Thermodynamics and Kinetics - page 340

8

6

4

2

0

-2

-4

FIGURE 6.40 Percent contributions to CO 2 emissions.

TABLE 6.11
Greenhouse Gases in the Atmosphere
Parameter CO 2 (ppmv) CH 4 (ppbv) CFC-12 (pptv) N 2 O (ppbv)

Preindustrial
revolution
(1750-1800)

280 715 0 270

2005 concentration 379 ± 0.65 1774 ± 1.8 538 ± 0.18 319 ± 0.12

Rate of annual
accumulation

1.8 0.015 17 0.8

Atmospheric lifetime
(years)

50-200 12 ± 3 102 120

Source Fossil fuel burning,

deforestation

Rice fields, cattle,
landfills, fossil fuel
production

Aerosol
propellants,
refrigerants,
foams

Fertilizers,
biomass burning

Total emissions,
million tons/year

5500 550 ≈ 1 25

Source: Adapted from Houghton et al. 1990. ClimateChange:TheIPCCScientificAssessment , Cambridge
University Press, New York; IPCC 2007. Climate Change: The Physical Chemical Basis .New
York: Cambridge University Press, International Panel on Climate Change.