Biogenic and anthropogenic trace gases in the atmosphereThis paper illustrates the importance of biogenic and anthropogenic trace gases for the global environment and for the climate system. The paper briefly reviews the currently available estimates of sources and strengths of the biogenic and anthropogenic gases on the global scale. One of the major concerns for the global environment is the rapid increase in the concentration of long-lived trace gases such as CO2, CH4, N2O and the chlorofluorocarbons. The trend in the carbon dioxide concentration, as a result of fossil-fuel burning, is of the order of 0.4 percent per year, and this trend is related to the CO2 uptake by the ocean and by terrestrial ecosystems, which are likely to be modified if the planet warms up in the forthcoming decades. The concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide are increasing by 0.9 and 0.25 percent per year, respectively. In the case of the most widely used chlorofluorocarbons, trends as large as 10 percent per year or more are being measured.
Document ID
19950057630
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Brasseur, G. P. (National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado US, United States)
Prinn, R. G. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts US, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: In: The use of EOS for studies of atmospheric physics; Proceedings of the International School of Physics (Enrico Fermi), Course 115, Varenna, Italy, Jun. 26 - Jul. 6, 1990 . A95-89225