On the mitigation of non-CO sub 2 greenhouse gases

Conference · Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:5721445

Wuebbles, D J ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)

Much of the concern about potential effects of greenhouse gases on the future state of climate have been related to the growing atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide. Concentrations of a number of other radiatively important atmospheric trace constituents are also changing, many at rates much larger than the current rate of change in CO{sub 2} concentrations. For example, methane concentrations are increasing about one percent per year, while concentrations of several chlorofluorocarbons are increasing by more than 4 percent per year. In each case, the increasing concentrations of these gases, which are emitted at the Earth's surface, are thought to be related to human activities. The combined effects of these other greenhouse gases on climate could be cumulatively as large as the effects estimated for Co{sub 2}. Besides the direct radiative effects that these gases can have on climate, there are also potential indirect effects on climate through their chemical interactions with other greenhouse gases, such as ozone and water vapor. Evidence is mounting that such indirect effects are occurring. This paper describes what is known regarding these changing greenhouse gas concentrations, in particular their budgets and causes of the changing atmospheric concentrations. It also attempts to examine issues affecting the mitigation of their potential effects on future climate. 24 refs., 5 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/ER; USEPA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5721445
• Report Number(s): UCRL-101523; CONF-891002-2; ON: DE89016659
• Resource Relation: Conference: Joint power generation conference, Dallas, TX (USA), 22-26 Oct 1989
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
METHANE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
OZONE
CONCENTRATION RATIO
GLOBAL ASPECTS
HYDROCARBONS
MITIGATION
WATER
WATER VAPOR
ALKANES
CHEMISTRY
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
VAPORS
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)