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The composition of the Earth’s atmosphere is a key factor in determining the Earth’s temperature, and temperature has a critical effect on the conditions and limits for life on Earth. Many human activities result in the emission of gases that could contribute to changes in the Earth’s climate for generations to come. Each year, the emissions of ten categories of greenhouse gases are estimated from reports of energy consumption prepared by the Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, and from emissions data reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The categories of monitored gases include carbon dioxide; methane; nitrous oxide; chlorofluorocarbons-11, -12, and -13; chlorodifluoromethane; hydrofluorocarbons; perfluorocarbons; methyl chloroform; carbon monoxide; nitrogen oxides; and nonmethane volatile organic compounds. The emissions of gases are converted to million metric tons of carbon or carbon equivalents based on their respective global warming potentials. Between 1990 and 1994, the weighted total U.S. emissions rose by 3.9%; and between 1990 and 1995, U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide rose 5.1%.
Reference:
Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States, 1995.
Link(s) to be added, when feasible, to data at level of detail suitable
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http://www.sdi.gov/indicators/lc_ghge.htm Last Modified: May 13, 2002 |