Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.
Applied Biosystems Solid

Site Tools

  • AAAS
  • Subscribe
  • Feedback

Site Search

Search Advanced

Science 12 November 1976:
Vol. 194. no. 4266, pp. 685 - 690
DOI: 10.1126/science.194.4266.685
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Greenhouse Effects due to Man-Made Perturbations of Trace Gases

W. C. Wang 1, Y. L. Yung 1, A. A. Lacis 1, T. Mo 1, and J. E. Hansen 1

1 Atmospheric physicists at Goddard Space Flight Center, Institute for Space Studies, New York 10025

Nitrous oxide, methane, ammonia, and a number of other trace constituents in the earth's atmosphere have infrared absorption bands in the spectral region 7 to 14 µm and contribute to the atmospheric greenhouse effect. The concentrations of these trace gases may undergo substantial changes because of man's activities. Extensive use of chemical fertilizers and combustion of fossil fuels may perturb the nitrogen cycle, leading to increases in atmospheric N2O, and the same perturbing processes may increase the amounts of atmospheric CH4 and NH3. We use a one-dimensional radiative-convective model for the atmospheric thermal structure to compute the change in the surface temperature of the earth for large assumed increases in the trace gas concentrations; doubling the N2O, CH4, and NH3 concentrations is found to cause additive increases in the surface temperature of 0.7°, 0.3°, and 0.1°K, respectively. These systematic effects on the earth's radiation budget would have substantial climatic significance. It is therefore important that the abundances of these trace gases be accurately monitored to determine the actual trends of their concentrations.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Inhibition of NO3- and NO2- Reduction by Microbial Fe(III) Reduction: Evidence of a Reaction between NO2- and Cell Surface-Bound Fe2+.
A. J. Coby and F. W. Picardal (2005)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 71, 5267-5274
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Greenhouse Theory of Climate Change: A Test by an Inadvertent Global Experiment.
V. Ramanathan and V. RAMANATHAN (1988)
Science 240, 293-299
   Abstract »    PDF »
Seasonal variations in the stable carbon isotopic signature of biogenic methane in a coastal sediment.
C. Martens, N. Blair, C. Green, and D. Des Marais (1986)
Science 233, 1300-1303
   Abstract »    PDF »
Interannual Variability of Atmospheric Methane: Possible Effects of the El Nino--Southern Oscillation.
M. A. K. KHALIL and R. A. RASMUSSEN (1986)
Science 232, 56-58
   Abstract »    PDF »
Nuclear Winter: Global Consequences of Multple Nuclear Explosions.
R. P. Turco, R. P. Turco, O. B. Toon, T. P. Ackerman, J. B. Pollack, and C. Sagan (1983)
Science 222, 1283-1292
   Abstract »    PDF »
Nitrous Oxide Production in Nearshore Marine Sediments.
S. P. Seitzinger, S. P. SEITZINGER, M. E. Q. PILSON, and S. W. NIXON (1983)
Science 222, 1244-1246
   Abstract »    PDF »
Variability of Antarctic Sea Ice: and Changes in Carbon Dioxide.
H. J. Zwally, C. L. Parkinson, and J. C. Comiso (1983)
Science 220, 1005-1012
   Abstract »    PDF »
Termites: A Potentially Large Source of Atmospheric Methane, Carbon Dioxide, and Molecular Hydrogen.
P. R. Zimmerman, P. R. ZIMMERMAN, J. P. GREENBERG, S. O. WANDIGA, and P. J. CRUTZEN (1982)
Science 218, 563-565
   Abstract »    PDF »
Climate Impact of Increasing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide.
J. Hansen, J. Hansen, D. Johnson, A. Lacis, S. Lebedeff, P. Lee, D. Rind, and G. Russell (1981)
Science 213, 957-966
   Abstract »    PDF »
Nitrous Oxide from Soil Denitrification: Factors Controlling Its Biological Production.
M. K. Firestone, M. K. FIRESTONE, R. B. FIRESTONE, and J. M. TIEDJE (1980)
Science 208, 749-751
   Abstract »    PDF »
Short-term climatic alterations caused by human activities: status and outlook.
W. Bach (1979)
Progress in Physical Geography 3, 55-83
   PDF »
Mount Agung Eruption Provides Test of a Global Climatic Perturbation.
J. E. Hansen, J. E. HANSEN, W.-C. WANG, and A. A. LACIS (1978)
Science 199, 1065-1068
   Abstract »    PDF »
Anthropogenic CO Emissions: Implications for the Atmospheric CO-OH-CH4 Cycle.
N. D. Sze and N. D. SZE (1977)
Science 195, 673-675
   Abstract »    PDF »


ADVERTISEMENT
Click Me!

ADVERTISEMENT
Click Me!

To Advertise     Find Products