Carbon monoxide and the burning earth

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Scientific American; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican1089-82· OSTI ID:6750144

Newell, R E; Reichle, Jr, H G; Seiler, W

Carbon monoxide is one of many gases whose presence in the atmosphere is blamed largely on industrial activity in the Northern Hemisphere. Data collected by the authors show that the gas is also abundant in the Southern Hemisphere, where it comes mainly from the burning of tropical rain forests and savannas. The high levels of carbon monoxide confirm other evidence that the rain forests are being diminished rapidly, which may affect the climates of these regions as well as globally. Increases in carbon monoxide could also encourage the accumulation of pollutant gases such as ozone and methane. The first is highly toxic to plants and the second would add to the greenhouse effect.

• OSTI ID: 6750144
• Journal Information: Scientific American; (USA), Vol. 261:4; ISSN 0036-8733
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
CARBON MONOXIDE
ABUNDANCE
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
DEFORESTATION
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CLIMATES
COMBUSTION
FORESTS
FOSSIL FUELS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
MEASURING METHODS
METHANE
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
OZONE
REMOTE SENSING
TOXICITY
ALKANES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
EARTH PLANET
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANETS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
010900 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects