Fast Facts About Greenhouse Gas Emissions

www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-04/documents/2019_fast_facts_508_0.pdf

So first off, let’s talk about greenhouse gas emissions. Because the Global warming potential is really forcing everything together into a cluster. For starters transportation is the LARGEST emissions of the USA. Don’t ever let anyone else tell you wrong.

So here are presented in terms of equivalent emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). It uses units of million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MMT CO2 Eq.).

Why is this important?  Well as I’ve written:

In addition, the ocean absorbs almost a third of the CO₂ we release into the atmosphere every year. So as atmospheric CO₂ levels increase, so do the levels in the ocean. Initially, many scientists focused on the benefits of the ocean removing this greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.

However, decades of ocean observations now show that there is also a downside. Cause the CO₂ absorbed by the ocean is changing the chemistry of the seawater. Thereby a process called OCEAN ACIDIFICATION.

To understand the changing chemistry of the oceans and the impacts of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems.  Our observations of key physical, chemical, and biological parameters support NOAA’s overall efforts. Efforts to predict how marine ecosystems will respond and to develop management strategies. Strategies for adapting to the consequences of ocean acidification.

Conversions for Greenhouse Gas Emissions

1 million metric tons = 106 metric tons = 109 kg. The molecular weight of carbon is 12, and the molecular weight of oxygen is 16; therefore, the molecular weight of CO2 is 44 (i.e., 12
+ [16 × 2]), as compared to 12 for carbon alone.Thus, the weight ratio of carbon to carbon dioxide is 12/44.
Conversion from gigagrams of gas to million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents:
MMT CO Eq. = ( Gg ) × (GWP) × ( MMT ) 2 of gas 1,000 Gg
Source:
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (2007)