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Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

FROM VOLUME 8, NUMBER 10, OCTOBER 1995

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS...
ANTHROPOGENIC EMISSIONS AND CONTROL

Item #d95oct15

"Soils and Greenhouse Gases: Management for Mitigation," S. Armstrong-Brown (Sch. Agric., Food & Environ., Cranfield Univ., Silsoe, Beds MK45 4DT, UK), M.D. Rounsevell, P. Bullock, Chem. & Industry, No. 16, 647-50, Aug. 21, 1995.

Reviews the soil sources and sinks of each greenhouse gas, and explores ways in which soil management can mitigate greenhouse gas releases. In the future, greenhouse gases are likely to increase in developing countries in line with moves toward intensive agriculture. Conversely, in developed countries, soil emissions are declining and are likely to continue to do so because of the trend toward less intensive agriculture. However, this trend derives from policies to reduce agricultural surpluses or protect water resources, rather than direct attempts at greenhouse gas mitigation. Future emissions will depend on policies that address the issue directly. Many of the strategies suggested here are compatible with efficient agricultural production.

Item #d95oct16

"Impact on the Greenhouse Effect of Peat Mining and Combustion," H. Rodhe (Dept. Meteor., Stockholm Univ., S-10691 Stockholm, Swed.), B. Svensson, Ambio, 24(4), 221-225, June 1995.

The decreased emission of methane from drained peat mires compensates for about 15% of the CO₂ emitted during the combustion of the peat. In a time frame of less than several hundred years, the greenhouse effect of peat is comparable to a fossil fuel.

Item #d95oct17

"Estimations of Real-World N₂O Emissions from Road Vehicles by Means of Measurements in a Traffic Tunnel," Á. Sjödin (Swed. Environ. Res. Inst., Göteborg, Swed.), D.A. Cooper, K. Andréasson, J. Air & Waste Mgmt., 45(3), 186-190, Mar. 1995.

Calculates an average N₂O emission factor for the mixed-vehicle fleet of about 25 mg N₂O/km at average speeds of 30-70 km/h.

Item #d95oct18

"Hydroelectric Dams in the Brazilian Amazon as Sources of 'Greenhouse' Gases," P.M. Fearnside (Dept. Ecol., Natl. Inst. Res. in Amazonia, POB 478, 69011-970 Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil), Environ. Conserv., 22(1), 7-19, Spring 1995.

Existing reservoirs emitted about 0.26 million tons of CH₄ and 38 million tons of CO₂ in 1990. The total area of planned reservoirs is about 20 times the area existing in 1990, implying a potential annual CH₄ release of about 5.2 tons. About 40% of the estimated release is from underwater decay of forest biomass.

Item #d95oct19

"Global Warming Potentials: The Case of Emissions from Dams," L.P. Rosa (Energy Planning Prog., Fed. Univ. Rio de Janeiro, CP 68565, Ilha Fundao 21945-970 Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil), R. Schaeffer, Energy Policy, 23(2), 149-158, Feb. 1995.

Applies an alternative global warming potential index to emissions from hydroelectric reservoirs in Brazil. For the cases studied, hydroelectricity contributes less to the greenhouse effect over the long-term than fossil-fuel electricity generation.

Item #d95oct20

"Agriculture's Share in the Emission of Trace Gases Affecting the Climate and Some Cause-Oriented Proposals for Sufficiently Reducing This Share," K. Isermann (Agric. Res. Sta. BASF Aktiengesellschaft, POB 220, W-6703 Limburgerhof, Ger.), Environ. Pollut., 83, 95-111, 1994.

Agriculture's contribution to anthropogenic emissions are >95% for NH3, 81% for N₂O, 70% for CH₄, 52% for CO, 35% for NOx and 21% for CO₂. The main contributors to the global warming potential of agriculture are changing land use (CO₂), and animal husbandry, rice cropping and biomass burning (CH₄). Proposals for reducing emissions include more efficient use of nutrients, cessation of clearing by burning, and intensified afforestation.

Item #d95oct21

"China's Greenhouse Gas Emissions," V. Smil (Dept. Geog., Univ. Manitoba, Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2, Can.), Global Environ. Change, 4(4), 325-332, Dec. 1994.

Already the world's second largest producer of greenhouse emissions, China will continue to increase its emissions during the coming generation and will almost inevitably lead the world by 2025. Heavy reliance on coal will more than double its recent CO₂ emissions, and increased food production will lead to greater agricultural releases of methane and nitrous oxide.