Monday, March 12, 2012

Nitrous Oxide Emissions Are No Laughing Matter

We waste a lot of energy, often to save effort that would be healthier for us to expend.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120312101926.htm

ScienceDaily (Mar. 12, 2012) — While many are acquainted with the problems caused by CO­­2 emissions, the harmful effects of the release of nitrous oxide into the atmosphere have been far less well known. Only in recent years has the international scientific community begun to understand the scope of the threat posed by N2O emissions.

Emissions of nitrous oxide have evolved into a big problem following the boom in the production of biological fuels -- considered an effective measure against global warming.

"Biological fuels are produced as an alternative fuel, intended to replace the burning of oil and gas and thereby reduce global warming. However, since the plants used in the production of biological fuels require fertiliser we cannot eliminate the emission of nitrous oxide; it is a by-product of the process," explains Professor Lars Bakken, a group leader with the Nitrogen Group at the University of Life Sciences (UMB) in Ås, Norway.

"The end result is more or less zero gain," he adds. "Nitrous oxide actually tips the balance in the direction of greater warming, undermining the promise of biological fuels as a means to effect cooling."

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