The phytosystem as a sink for carbon dioxide

Technical Report · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6832480

Kulp, J L ^[1]

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1. Kulp (J.L.), Federal Way, WA (USA)

This report presents the result of a preliminary study of the potential use of forests as a global sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide and as an energy source to displace fossil fuel. Additional carbon storage in the phytosphere and its products may be achieved by increases in the forested area of the earth, the productivity per hectare and the volume of solid wood and paper products. Phytomass may also be used to displace fossil fuel in boilers and other energy applications. It is technically possible to increase the growth and use of phytomass to offset a significant fraction of the current annual input of carbon dioxide from the combustion of fossil fuels over the next half century or more. Most importantly, it appears that the enhanced development and utilization of the phytosphere can be economically driven although at the outset further research and demonstrations, revised governmental policies, capital from international sources and some subsidies would be required. 36 refs., 5 tabs.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (USA); Kulp (J.L.), Federal Way, WA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: EPRI
• OSTI ID: 6832480
• Report Number(s): EPRI-EN-6786
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200500 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Environmental Aspects-- (1990-)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
553000 -- Agriculture & Food Technology
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLIMATES
COMBUSTION
EMISSION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FORESTS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REMOVAL
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES