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GREENHOUSE GASES

  • CO2 - Carbon Dioxide

    Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is released when fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) are burned. The increase in CO2 in the atmosphere is causing global warming.


    CH4 - Methane

    Methane (CH4) is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from the decomposition of organic wastes in municipal solid waste landfills, and the raising of livestock.


    N20 - Nitrous Oxide

    Nitrous Oxide (N20) is primarily emitted to the atmosphere from biological activity in soil and water, both natural and anthropogenic. Nitrous Oxide absorbs 270 times more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide.


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    SMOG CAUSING GASES


    NOx - Nitrogen Oxides

    Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) form when fossil fuels and biomass are burned at high temperatures. They contribute to ground-level ozone (or smog), and to the formation of acid rain.


    SO2 - Sulfur Dioxide

    Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is formed when fuels containing sulfur, primarily coal and oil, are burned. SO2 combines with water and oxygen in the atmosphere to form acid rain.


    03 - Ozone

    Ground-level ozone (the primary constituent of smog) is the most complex, difficult to control, and pervasive of the six principal air pollutants. Unlike other pollutants, ozone is not emitted directly into the air by specific sources. Ozone is created by sunlight acting on NOx and VOC in the air.(Source:EPA)
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  • PUBLIC SMOG WON'T SAVE THE GREENLAND PUMP

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  • "Its also interesting to note that one gallon of gas burned, makes about 12 pounds of CO2 so you could 'buy' a ton by preventing about 180 gallons of gas from being burned - eg substituting out bicycling for 3500 miles of cars being driven (avg 20mpg), or not flying one person coast to coast (about the amount of fuel burned per person per cross atlantic flight)"

    - Dr. David Pepper
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  • PUBLIC SMOG CONTRIBUTORS >>
    Dr. Alexandra Thompson
    David Oppenheimer
    Mark Van Soestbergen
    Fiona Parry

    ADDITIONAL THANKS TO >>
    Josh On
    Fabienne Delpy-Adler
    Dr. David Pepper
    Saul Albert

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  • PUBLIC SMOG IS KYOTO GOLD STANDARD


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    • (L) 2006 Libre Commons Res Communes License
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    UPPER PARK: ABOUT

    The Upper Park opened in the stratosphere over the European Union in the fall of 2006, with the purchase of 51 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission allowances (EUAs) in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS).

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    Q: How large is the Upper Park currently?

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    A: “CO2 in the atmosphere is now something like 380 ppm by volume. The atmosphere can be said to have an equivalent mass (N2 + O2) of roughly 29 atomic mass units (amu), and CO2 has a mass of 44 amu. One cubic meter of air is about 1.3 kg, or 1300 g. Multiplying this by 380 ppm, and correcting for the heavier mass of CO2, gives about 3/4 gram CO2 in 1 m3 of air.

    So if you bought 1 (metric) ton of CO2, you would have bought all the CO2 in 1,334,000 m3, or a cube roughly 110 m on a side. This is a good fraction of the air in a football stadium.” (Source: Dr. Thomas Cahill)

    So 51 tons of CO2 emissions, in normal distribution in the atmosphere would fill a volume 5,610 m on each side, or roughly the volume of 51 football stadiums.

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    Or, if the distance to space is 100km (and half density), one ton of CO2 would buy a 5 meter by 5 meter box (or about a 16 feet square column of air) up to space, so the park could also take this form, of a 205 x 205 m wide column from earth to space. (Source: Dr. David Pepper)

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    If the Upper Park will remain available to the public until the expiration of the offsets, at the end of 2007.