A Fight to Protect our Atmosphere
Rohun Kulshrestha
While admiring the luminencent sky during the day, it can be tough to believe what is actually going on up there. Our atmosphere can seem alluringly close and yet at the same time, can be mysteriously distant. We can see planes, the birds, sometimes the sun, other times the moon, and most of the time clouds. However, if you were to observe the Earth from space, you would see the true nature of our atmosphere: a glowing halo of colors that gradually fades into the blakness of space. Then, suddenly, you realize that our atmosphere, though seeming so vast from below, appears shockingly thin and fragile from above. It is because of this that we must protect it, and it is because of that fact that scientist have developed/ are developing new ways to do so.
The chemistry of Earth’s atmosphere is actually remarkably stable, and that can be proven by it’s climate history. However, even small changes to the quality of the air that we breath can have profound impacts on our health. Understanding the atmosphere’s stability and how humans impact it are key research tasks in atmospheric chemistry. One key to stability is the hydroxyl radical (OH), a highly reactive chemical that enables Earth’s atmosphere to cleanse itself of pollutants. OH is almost like a global detergent, it helps keep the atmosphere balanced by removing pollutants from the lower atmosphere thus keeping things clean. It is used as the main check on concentrations of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, methane, and higher hydrocarbons. While OH seems like an optimal tool, there is still much scientists do not know about it. For instance, how reactive can it be, how fast does it cleanse, how might climate change effect it’s reactivity, and much more. To predict such changes, scientist have started to use atmospheric models based on data from satellites.
One satellite in paraticular, the OCO-2, was launched for similar reasons. The OCO-2 was launched in 2014 and has since then gathered global measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide. I’m sure most of you already know that carbon dioxide is one of the principal human-emmited drivers of climate change, so you understand why satellites like the OCO-2 can be instrumental to reaserch. The precise, high resolution information that OCO-2 collects is then used to understand how green house gasses move through Earth’s systems, as well as how it changes over time. From its vantage point in space, OCO-2 makes roughly 100,000 measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide every day. In fact, OCO-2 has already provided new insights into the processes emitting carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and those that are absorbing it. However, it is not only this one satellite doing all the work. There is the OCO-3 and other new satellites that are all giving us new tools to understand how, where, and how much carbon dioxide human activities are emitting into the atmosphere and how those emissions are interacting with Earth’s natural cycles. Additionally, by 2025, Europe is set to launch The Copernicus CO2 which is equipped with wide viewing swaths that will enable it to map Earth’s entire surface on a weekly interval. Unlike the OCO missions that focus on improving our understanding, The Copernicus will be an imaging software that would help give us the abililty to estimate emissions of every large plant in every city around the world.
In response to these rapid changes observed in carbon dioxide concentrations and their potential impact on our climate, 33 of the world’s space agencies, including participants from the United States, Europe, Japan, and China, are now working together to develop a global greenhouse gas monitoring system that could be implemented by late 2020s. Although, there is always room for more help from people like you and me. What are you doing to help reduce your carbon footprint? Do you think these projects could potentially reverse some damage? What do you predict of our atmosphere in the coming years?
Sources:
https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2914/the-atmosphere-earths-security-blanket/
https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2915/the-atmosphere-getting-a-handle-on-carbon-dioxide/
https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2916/the-atmosphere-tracking-the-ongoing-recovery-of-earths-ozone-hole/
19 comments:
Very interesting blog post! Thank you for writing it. To reduce my carbon footprint, I limit the amount of meat I eat, pack my food and drinks in reusable containers when possible, make sure to recycle, and overall just make an effort to be aware on what is good for the environment. I think that if the world works together, a difference could truly be made. However, there are many skeptics on the subject, so I greatly worry about the future of our environment.
When we did the footprint activity the first week in this class I was so surprised by my outcome. I do try to decrease the amount of times I drive. Decreasing the amount of meat I eat is a tough one considering I’ve been eating it my whole life.
How far technology has come fascinates me. The tech inside our satellites have brought so much inside our atmosphere. If Europe’s new satellite in 2025 were to be a successful mission, it would make a significant difference in how we understand what plant to grow and not. We will now have a specific amount of CO2 gas emission tied with each plant that will help us understand which plant or tree emits for CO2. Hopefully we can decrease the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted through new technology.
Doing the footprint activity towards the beginning of this class was really eye opening. I try to decrease my footprint by carpooling with my friends. I've also been more aware about purchasing "fast fashion" items and more thoughtful of purchasing good quality clothes that will last long.
Humans take for granted the place on which they live on. Our atmosphere does so much to protect our way of life and people don’t even care to notice. I am no exception to this as my carbon footprint isn’t ideal, but I have put some sustainable practices into my life ever since. People are so reluctant to change, which is why the earth and its atmosphere are in tr state it’s in. If people can buy into change, it can be done.
This was so interesting! To reduce my carbon footprint I try to avoid using my car too much and try to not turn the air conditioner down too low in the summer. Also, purchasing clothes that I can use more times before buying new ones will help reduce my carbon footprint. It is important for people to be aware of their carbon footprint in order to see how much they are affecting our environment.
Reducing a coat on footprint can be difficult but taking things step by step is always beneficial. I try to limit my water use when using the sink, washing dishes, and taking showers. I did not know that there was a Greenhouse Gas monitoring system being implemented, and it is very important to our atmosphere and our health that we monitor the types of gases in the atmosphere.
Honestly I think that the people and companies responsible for the majority of air pollutants won't care even if they're told exactly how much damage they're causing. They don't seem to care about the impacts, so it's highly unlikely that statistical data telling them what exactly they're doing to cause the damage will make much of a difference. However, I do think that it would be beneficial for national governments to obtain this information because it can help them implement specific laws and regulations for individuals and corporations. If there is a way of measuring greenhouse gas emissions more intricately, it could be easier to limit them.
Really interesting topic. I believe that reducing an individual’s carbon footprint is quite difficult but possible. People need to deviate from their normal routines and take a step back to look at what causes lots of carbon. I personally could start carpooling more with friends and try to reduce the amount of meat I consume since meat production produces lots of carbon. I think the projects might not reverse our carbon footprint per say; however, I do think it might reduce future levels of carbon.
Your article reminds me of our earlier units where we discussed the different atmospheric levels, what occurs in each level and what endangers each level. Unfortunately, we’re at a point where most people are very dependent on machines that emit greenhouse gases. For example, many people have cars even when they don’t need it. But people won’t get rid of their cars because there may not be enough public transportation options or its societally praised if one has a vehicle. We need to address problems such as these to truly begin to reduce our carbon footprint.
People do not realize how much of an impact they leave on the Earth with whatever they do in regards to the environment. In most cases, the actions citizens do affects nature in a negative way. Myself and the rest of the population need to focus more on what we are doing to the environment today. My carbon footprint is not the best number I can make it, so I want to improve that by changing my everyday actions to help natural habitats and the atmosphere.
People need to be more aware of how they’re impacting the environment. The carbon footprint helps them figure out how much of the resources they’re using. People knowing how they play a part in our environment would allow them to reduce their amount of resources. I’m going to try to be more aware of how I’m impacting the earth and try my best to reduce the natural resources I use everyday.
The carbon footprint we leave on this planet stays on here and that's why we as humans need to limit it as much as we can. Personally, I carpool a lot, I have a certain day where I eat vegetarian, and I do so much more to try and limit. I hope people are limiting their use of resources because if we do not stop now then there will be many disasters to come.
This article is very interesting! It is important for people to understand the impacts of their lives in order to make informed decisions. In order to reduce my carbon footprint, I eat vegetarian. While many people can’t afford to do the same, simple things such as carpooling and reducing meat intake will help the environment.
Wow, this blog was very interesting! I didn’t really know that our carbon footprint affects the earth. People should know and understand the impact they make on our earth. We as humans should start making it a habit to reduce our carbon footprint to help our environment. I’ve been reducing my carbon by not eating as much meat and I have been purchasing thrifted clothes. This blog also should how advanced our technology has become. Hopefully with this new technology we can help save our earth.
This was really informative and very well written, thanks for sharing! Honestly, I’m not sure projects like a monitoring system would actually help decrease carbon emissions. Sure, the system would probably make greenhouse gases and their abundance in the atmosphere more apparent, but the fact is simply monitoring their amounts will not bring them down. However, if legislation is passed in regards to the system’s readings, it is a possibility that emissions could decrease some. In regards to your other question, to reduce my carbon footprint I haven’t done much thus far, but I will certainly do my best to walk or bike places that are more close and convenient to do so in order to prevent excess emissions from the car. Also, even now, I carpool quite often so that may save some emissions as well.
The advance of technology in recent years is astounding, and I think that this blog completely supports the need for green technology and green imagery. Because the atmosphere is invisible and difficult to screen, satélites and other technologies like that describes in the this blog post. For example, chemicals like chlorofluorocarbon which deplete the ozone could have continued to be released and produced without scientific imagery surrounding the wrenching of the ozone. A very interesting blog!
This is interesting and a lot smarter than me. It is interesting reading about how technology has the ability to help us maintain the ozone layer and things like that, It is interesting to read about all the effects of the technology on our everyday life.
Great Blog!
This blog truly made me ponder the extent to which technology could be an effective means of improving the environmental conditions around us in an efficient way. With how far we've come in technology and its advancements, there is no doubt that green technology should be at the forefront of every environmentalist's mind.
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