Definitions:
Fossil Fuels: Fuels formed by natural resources such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms. The source of most of the world's energy today. Soot: A general term referring to impure carbon particles resulting from the incomplete combustion of a hydrocarbon.
Summary:
Mark Z. Jacobson, a researcher for Stanford University, recently discovered that the soot from burning fossil fuels and solid biofuels impacts the atmosphere very negatively, nearly as much as the emissions sent out by the fossil fuels. In fact, Jacobson's extensive research lays the impacts of soot directly behind carbon dioxide, and is now the second leading cause of global warming. In past years, soot escaped detection of computer models, and scientists were unable to comprehend its full influence, especially in the melting of Artic regions. The effects of soot are not even mentioned in national, as well as international, global policy legislation. Because soot can only stay in the atmosphere for a few weeks, reducing soot emissions could have an extremely rapid and significant impact on the atmosphere. "Controlling soot may be the only method of significantly slowing Artic warming within the next two decades," Jacobson stated.
Discussion:
I think this was actually an amazing breakthrough in the scientific world. Undoubtedly, this will give hope to thousands of scientists, as there is a finally a definite, simple, and quick solution to solving the immense issue that is global warming. It is crucial for researchers to implement this solution as fast as they can, in order to preserve what is left of the Arctic circle. It's essential that we take care of the environment as much as we can. I also believe that reducing soot emissions should be including in international attempts to prolong the rising temperature, such as the Kyoto Protocol. By forcing companies leading in emissions to also decrease soot emissions, the atmosphere will undoubtedly become healthier in time. This discovery relates to all of our lives as human beings who live on the planet Earth, as it helps towards the cause of preserving nature, which we can not survive without.
Questions:
How do scientists plan to implement this solution of getting rid of the soot in the atmosphere?
Are international governments making plans to add this to emission restricting policies?
Resources:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2009/06/090629200808-large.jpg
Questions:
How do scientists plan to implement this solution of getting rid of the soot in the atmosphere?
Are international governments making plans to add this to emission restricting policies?
Resources:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2009/06/090629200808-large.jpg
"Soot seen as significant in global warming." Science Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 20 Nov. 2010. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE40&SID=5&iPin=UPI-1-20100728-190144-bc-us-sootwarning&SingleRecord=True>.
Great job Tiara. Your blog was well-written and easy to understand. I find this topic interesting and important because it affects all of us. I think this issue is very important because if we decrease the soot emissions, the atmosphere would be much cleaner. I agree with you in that this is a huge breakthrough for scientists working on global warming and trying to stop it, as this new knowledge helps them figure out another way to prevent it. Good job.
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