Greenhouse gases (GRK)

CO2, CH4, N2O, Halocarbon, SF6

According to an International Energy
Agency report in June 2011.
Greenhouse gases increased 6 per cent during
2010, one of the largest annual increases on
record according to the US Department of
Energy. In 2010 about 512 million metric
tonnes more of carbon was emitted to the
atmosphere than in 2009. Total emissions for
2010 were 30.6 Gigatonnes, 5% higher than
the previous record year in 2008.
 Increases in atmospheric conc. Of GHG since 1850

Quantity CO2 CH4 N2O CFC-11 HCFC-22 CF4

Preindustrial - 280 - 700 - 275
zero zero Zero
Concentration ppmv ppbv ppbv
Concentration 358 1720 312 ppbv 268 pptv 110 pptv 72 pptv
in 1994 ppmv ppbv
Recent rate of 1.5 10 0.8 0 1.2
change in conc ppmv/yr ppbv/yr ppbv/yr ppbv/yr 5 pptv/yr pptv/yr
Atm lifetime, 50-200 12 120 50 12 50,000
(years)
Source : IPCC, 1996
 Carbon Dioxide, CO2
Emissions (Mton/Year)
No Source
World US
1 Commercial Energy 22,900 5,250
2 Cement manufacturing & Gas 1,000 50
Flaring
3 Tropical deforestration 5,900 -
Total CO2 29,800 5,300

Rubin E.S, 2001 Introduction to eng’ng and environment, pg 40

 Methan, CH4
Emissions (Mton/Year)
No Source
World US
1 Fossil fuel production related 100
2 Enteric Fermentation 85
3 Rice Paddies 60
4 Landfills 40
5 Animal waste 25
6 Domestic Sewage 25
Total CH4 375 31

Rubin E.S, 2001 Introduction to eng’ng and environment, pg 40

 Nitrous Oxide, N2O
Emissions (Mton/Year)
No Source
World US
1 Cultivated Soils 3.5
2 Industrial 1.3
3 Biomass burning 0.5
4 Cattle and feed lots 0.4
Total N2O 5.7 0.5

Rubin E.S, 2001 Introduction to eng’ng and environment, pg 40

 Halocarbon & Other
Emissions (Mton/Year)
No Source
World US
1 CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113 0.7 0.1
2 HCFC-22 0.2 0.1
3 HFCs, PFCs, SF6 n/a 0.034

Rubin E.S, 2001 Introduction to eng’ng and environment, pg 40