Recent study reveals facts and myths about global warming
According to a latest study conducted busts a myth that coal burning for electricity is better for Earth than wood. The results reveal that wood burning power plants produce much more amount of green gasses that are pumped into the atmosphere than the amount produced by coal burning plant.
The study was conducted on the orders of Massachusetts state environmental officials and conducted rigorously for about six months to finally reach the result. This rubbished the idea of burning biomass for power needs as they were believed to be less carbon producing. The study has ended the path for the use of biomass as a renewable energy source in the wake of depleting natural resources and global warming. The Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences on Thursday published the findings of the study.
Till now biomass was said to be carbon neutral as the trees absorb carbon dioxide for during their lifetime for producing food. Now when this biomass is burned the carbon is released into the atmosphere which can be again taken up by other growing plants in its place. But this idea has been left on shaky grounds after the study. The study points out that the time frames considered in this idea are wrong. It takes a very small time for a tree to burn out and release a large amount of carbon into the atmosphere whereas it would take decades to absorb and fix the same amount of carbon. This questions the role that biomass can play in the reduction of atmospheric carbon which is the primary reason of global warming.
John Hagan, Manomet’s president elaborates “There’s a greenhouse gas debt before there’s a dividend. And so the question becomes, how long does it take to pay off the debt before you start to appreciate the climate benefits of using wood?” Hagan says. “So if it’s a large electricity plant, like a 50-megawatt electricity plant, the debt period could be 20 or 30 years before you start to appreciate a carbon benefit.”
Biomass can on the contrary be used more efficiently for heating and not for power generation. In its use for heating the biomass can pay off the carbon debt within 10 to 20 years. The carbon debt payoff for using biomass instead of coal to make electricity is 21 years and more than 90 years compared to making electricity from natural gas.
The study will be and enlightening literature for policy makers of the future to address power needs and at the same time account for sustainable development and reduce global warming. And also help regions manage their forests better.
source: Abh-news.com
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There is no argument that global temperature is rising at a rate of about 0.6 deg C/century, with an oscillation of about +/- 0.2 deg C in phase with the 60-year Pacific Decadal Oscillation.There is no evidence whatever, anywhere, in any article, however, that this warming is due to CO2, nor that it is anthropogenic, nor that it poses any threat to human habitation or civilization (nor to polar bears, nor to coral), nor that any possible human activity could stop it.In fact, the latest research appears to decisively rule out any significant role for CO2 in the current warming.Bandwagons are not science, they are politics.
From the beginning of time, the earth has been changing. Scientists have long studied the cooling and heating patterns that the earth. Whether you’re for or against global warming, the facts cannot be denied that yes, the earth warms, and it just so occurs we are already going via a steady warming period. Nevertheless, what goes up must come down, and the earth will go via a cooling period as nicely. The trends have shown us this, and many say that we have already entered the cooling period. Thoughts?
It truly is pleasant here. nice study. I have been looked this kind of tips for some time. thanks