Is there methane in clouds?

Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas that gets released into the atmosphere due to anthropological activities. It is responsible for about 30% of the Earth's warming.

Methane clouds have been in the news recently with large plumes of methane being spotted over countries such as China, India, Jordan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and so on. The recent methane hotspots were attributed to waste sectors in these countries. And the scenario is alarming.

Methane is the primary component of natural gas and is responsible for about 30% of the Earth's warming. According to scientists, the potent greenhouse gas has 84 times the warming power of carbon dioxide during its first two decades in the atmosphere. As such, reducing emissions of methane is one of the fastest ways to cool the planet.

Waste sector triggering methane clouds

A cloud of methane near a waste site in India was observed earlier this month. According to the satellite images taken, the methane plume is the result of the landfill in the country. The estimated emissions rate was 1.328 kg per hour of methane. These clouds of methane can cover vast areas and sometimes stretch for even 200 miles. All these observations were made through the satellite images released by the GHGSat, which is involved in high-resolution remote-sensing of greenhouse gas from space. Garbage and landfills can generate the potent greenhouse gas. This happens when organic material such as food waste breaks down in the absence of oxygen Landfills and wastewater are responsible for about 20% of the methane emissions generated from human activity. Not doing enough to stop these emissions can affect the global climate goals.

Sources of methane leak

Methane gets released into the atmosphere due to anthropological activities. It is also generated as a byproduct of oil and coal production and as part of agricultural activities. If not properly sealed, closed or abandoned coal mines can leak methane. This can go on for years.

Monitoring methane from space

Satellites can identify and track methane from anywhere, thereby aiding in tracking the methane footprint. This helps in climate transparency, bringing in accountability for countries and companies releasing methane. Greenhouse gases can be quantified and attributed in real-time. A total of 120 countries are part of the global methane pledge, which aims to cut the release of the gas by 30% by the end of this decade from the 2020 levels.

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT IS METHANE?

Methane is a hydrocarbon, which means that it is a compound made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms. It naturally occurs as an odourless, colourless, and tasteless gas. It is 25 times more dangerous Greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. It can either be introduced into the environment by natural processes like the decomposition of the organic matter or by human activities like coal oil and natural gas extractions from the Earth, uncovered or poorly managed landfills and the burning of fossil fuels to name a few.

PRIMARY SOURCES OF METHANE EMISSIONS

Atmospheric methane concentrations have grown as a result of human activities related to agriculture, including rice cultivation and ruminant livestock; coal mining; oil and gas production and distribution; biomass burning; and municipal waste landfilling. Emissions are projected to continue to increase by 2030 unless immediate action is taken.

In agriculture, rapid and large scale implementation of improved livestock feeding strategies can reduce of 20% of global methane emissions by 2030, while full implementation of intermittent aeration of continually flooded rice paddies (known as alternate wetting and drying cultivation) could reduce emission from rice production by over 30%.

Emissions from coal mining and the oil and gas sector could be reduced by over 65% by preventing gas leakage during transmission and distribution, recovering and using gas at the production stage, and by pre-mine degasification and recovery of methane during coal mining.

METHANE IMPACTS

  • CLIMATE IMPACTS

Methane is generally considered second to carbon dioxide in its importance to climate change. The presence of methane in the atmosphere can also affect the abundance of other greenhouse gases, such as tropospheric ozone, water vapor and carbon dioxide.

Recent research suggests that the contribution of methane emissions to global warming is 25% higher than previous estimates.>

  • HEALTH IMPACTS

Methane is a key precursor gas of the harmful air pollutant, tropospheric ozone. Globally, increased methane emissions are responsible for half of the observed rise in tropospheric ozone levels.

While methane does not cause direct harm to human health or crop production, ozone is responsible for about 1 million premature respiratory deaths globally. Methane is responsible for about half of these deaths.

SOLUTIONS

The relatively short atmospheric lifetime of methane, combined with its strong warming potential, means that targeted strategies to reduce emissions can provide climate and health benefits within a few decades.

The Coalition supports implementation of control measures that, if globally implemented by 2030, could reduce global methane emissions by as much as 40%. Several of these emission reductions could be achieved with net savings, providing quick benefits for the climate as well as public health and agricultural yields.

Credit : Climate & clean air coalition   

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT ARE HYDROFLUOROCARBONS?

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are a group of industrial chemicals primarily used for cooling and refrigeration. HFCs were developed to replace stratospheric ozone-depleting substances that are currently being phased out under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Many HFCs are very powerful greenhouse gases and a substantial number are short-lived climate pollutants with a lifetime of between 15 and 29 years in the atmosphere.

Though HFCs currently represent around 1% of total greenhouse gases, their impact on global warming can be hundreds to thousands of times greater than that of carbon dioxide per unit of mass. Assuming no new regulation, HFC consumption is projected to double by 2020, and emissions could contribute substantially to radiative forcing in the atmosphere by the middle of the century.

The Kigali Amendment to phase down HFCs under the Montreal Protocol entered into force in 2019. Under the amendment, countries commit to cut the production and consumption of HFCs by more than 80% over the next 30 years to avoid more than 70 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 2050 -- and up to 0.5° C warming by the end of the century. Solutions are available to replace high-global warming potential HFCs in many sectors and reduce emissions.

HFCs CLIMATE IMPACTS

HFCs are potent greenhouse gases that can be hundreds to thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) in contributing to climate change per unit of mass. A recent study concluded that replacing high-GWP HFCs with low-GWP alternatives could avoid 0.1°C of warming by 2050. Fast action under the Montreal Protocol could limit the growth of HFCs and avoid up to 0.5°C of warming by 2100.

SOLUTIONS

HFCs can be most effectively controlled through a phase down of their production and consumption.

In addition to the direct climate benefits from HFC mitigation, a global HFC phase down could also provide indirect benefits through improvements in the energy efficiency of the refrigerators, air conditioners, and other products and equipment that use these chemicals. These efficiency gains could also lead to reduced emissions of CO2 and other air pollutants.

Credit : Climate and clean air coalition 

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT ARE GREENHOUSE GASES?

Atmospheric gases that absorb infrared radiation and trap heat are called greenhouse gases. These gases let sunlight pass through the atmosphere and prevent the heat from the sunlight from leaving the atmosphere - just like a greenhouse. The main greenhouse gases are water vapour, methane, carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons. While some amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is required to keep the earth habitable, too much, induced by human activity is bad.

Greenhouse gases are gases that can trap heat. They get their name from greenhouses. A greenhouse is full of windows that let in sunlight. That sunlight creates warmth. The big trick of a greenhouse is that it doesn’t let that warmth escape.

That’s exactly how greenhouse gases act. They let sunlight pass through the atmosphere, but they prevent the heat that the sunlight brings from leaving the atmosphere. Overall, greenhouse gases are a good thing. Without them, our planet would be too cold, and life as we know it would not exist. But there can be too much of a good thing. Scientists are worried that human activities are adding too much of these gases to the atmosphere.

Human activities since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution (around 1750) have increased the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide by almost 50%, from 280 ppm in 1750 to 419 ppm in 2021. The last time the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide was this high was over 3 million years ago. This increase has occurred despite the absorption of more than half of the emissions by various natural carbon sinks in the carbon cycle.

At current greenhouse gas emission rates, temperatures could increase by 2 °C (3.6 °F), which the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says is the upper limit to avoid "dangerous" levels, by 2050. The vast majority of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions come from combustion of fossil fuels, principally coal, petroleum (including oil) and natural gas, with additional contributions from cement manufacturing, fertilizer production, deforestation and other changes in land use.

Credit : Climate kids 

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT ARE FLUORINATED GASES?

Fluorinated gases or F-gases are a family of human-made fluorine-based gases. They are powerful greenhouse gases that trap heat and hasten global warming. Though they find wide applications in households and industries, many countries such as the UK have imposed regulations on their use as a step towards combating the climate crisis.

There are three main types of F-gases:

  • hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
  • perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
  • sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).

Main uses of F-gases F-gases are used in a number of ways:

  • Stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RAC) equipment are some of the largest sources of F-gas emissions.
  • Some stationary fire protection systems and portable fire extinguishers currently use HFCs.
  • Mobile air conditioning in cars and light vans currently uses HFCs. Other air-conditioned and refrigerated transport also uses F-gases.
  • Solvents containing F-gases are used to clean components, eg in the electronics and aerospace industries. 
  • F-gases have many specialist uses such as in the production of magnesium, different types of foam and high voltage switchgear.

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT IS CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS?

Any of several organic compounds composed of carbon, fluorine, and chlorine, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCS) are non-toxic non-flammable chemicals. If it contains hydrogen in place of one of the chlorines, they are called hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCS) Originally developed as refrigerants in the 1930s. CFCs gained commercial and industrial value as they found use in the manufacture of aerosol sprays, solvents and foam-blowing agents. CFCS, however, were eventually discovered to pose an environmental threat at a serious: level as they contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer and hence are being phased out throughout the world.

What are the applications of CFC?

Chlorofluorocarbons are used in a variety of applications because of their low toxicity, reactivity and flammability. Every permutation of fluorine, chlorine and hydrogen-based on methane and ethane has been examined and most have been commercialized.

Furthermore, many examples are known for higher numbers of carbon as well as related compounds containing bromine. Uses include refrigerants, blowing agents, propellants in medicinal applications and degreasing solvents.

How do CFCs impact the environment?

However, the atmospheric impacts of CFCs are not limited to their role as ozone-depleting chemicals. Infrared absorption bands prevent heat at that wavelength from escaping the earth’s atmosphere. CFCs have their strongest absorption bands from C-F and C-Cl bonds in the spectral region of 7.8–15.3 µm—referred to as “atmospheric window” due to the relative transparency of the atmosphere within this region.

The strength of CFC absorption bands and the unique susceptibility of the atmosphere at wavelengths where CFCs (indeed all covalent fluorine compounds) absorb creates a “super” greenhouse gas (GHG) effect from CFCs and other unreactive fluorine-containing gases such as perfluorocarbons, HFCs, HCFCs, bromofluorocarbons.

Use of certain chloroalkanes as solvents for large-scale application, such as dry cleaning, have been phased out, for example, by the IPPC directive on greenhouse gases in 1994 and by the volatile organic compounds (VOC) directive of the European Union in 1997. Permitted chlorofluoro alkane uses are medicinal only.

According to scientific communities, the hole in the ozone layer has begun to recover as a result of CFC bans. India is one of the few countries that are pioneers in the use of non-Ozone Depleting technologies and have a low Global Warming Potential (GWP).

Credit : BYJUS.com 

Picture Credit : Google 

Why is Carbon Monoxide is dangerous gas?

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas produced when substances containing carbon-such as coal, wood, oil or petrol-are burned without enough oxygen present.

Why is it dangerous?

It is poisonous. Being colourless and odourless a dangerous amount of the gas can leak out before it is detected. If inhaled, carbon monoxide gets into the bloodstream and combines with the haemoglobin in the red blood corpuscles. preventing them from carrying life-giving oxygen to the various parts of the body. If breathed in continuously in an enclosed space the person will slip into unconsciousness and die.

In cities, a great deal of carbon monoxide is released into the atmosphere by car engines.

Picture Credit : Google 

Why is nitrous oxide called the laughing gas?

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a colourless non inflammable gas at room temperature. It has a slight metallic scent and taste. It has been used in anaesthetics because of its pain-relieving property. It is used in surgery and dentistry. Upon inhaling, nitrous oxide can cause euphoric effects. The gas leaves the patient conscious, but dulls his/her pain and awareness. It has a calming effect on people who inhale it, because it promotes the release of endogenous opioid neurotransmitters, which are natural painkillers.

N20 was called the laughing gas' by chemist Sir Humphry Davy. As part of his experiments with the gas in 1799, he inhaled it through a mouthpiece. He described that he experienced giddiness, flushed cheeks and intense pleasure.

compared to other anesthetic agents, nitrous oxide causes minimal effects on respiration and hemodynamics. It leads to decreased tidal volume and increased respiratory rate but has a minimal impact on overall minute ventilation. Nitrous oxide leads to direct myocardial depression, but nitrous oxide's sympathetic stimulation reduces this effect, and the net effect is minimal. Unlike other volatile anesthetics, nitrous oxide has no muscle relaxation properties.

Pictue Credit : Google 

Has laughing gas killed anyone?

When we talk about greenhouse gases, we often think of carbon-dioxide (CO2). But did you know nitrous oxide (N2O), also called laughing gas, is a potent greenhouse gas, with ozone-depleting property?

You must be aware that a greenhouse gas is a gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and keeps the planet warm. This process called the greenhouse effect is a good thing. Without it the world would be a frozen, uninhabitable place. However, too much greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can cause the temperature to increase out of control. The more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the hotter the earth will become. It changes the Earth's climate system and affect all forms of life.

The main gases responsible for the greenhouse effect include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapour. While carbon dioxide and to some extent methane have gained the recognition as climate change villains, N20 emission has largely been ignored in climate policies, despite its significant contribution to climate change.

A 2020 review of nitrous oxide sources and sinks found that emissions rose 30% in the last four decades. Nitrous oxide is responsible for roughly 7% of global warming since preindustrial times. Most N20 emissions have come from emerging countries like India, China and Brazil.

What are the sources of N20?

Nitrous oxide in the atmosphere comes from both natural and anthropogenic sources. The largest source of nitrous oxide is agriculture (73%), and the majority of agricultural emissions result from usage of nitrogen fertilizers and ill-management of animals waste.

Fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes are the other important source of nitrous oxide emissions. Biomass burning, atmospheric deposition and wastewater treatment are the other sources.

Why is N20 a cause for concern?

Like other greenhouse gases, nitrous oxide absorbs radiation and traps heat in the atmosphere. N20 has a long lifespan in the atmosphere-about 114 years.

N20 is nearly 300 times more potent at warming the planet than carbon dioxide, which means that even small sources of emissions can have a significant impact on the climate.

N20 has emerged as the most critical ozone depleting substance. It is stable in the lowest level of the atmosphere, the troposphere and acts like a greenhouse gas. When it migrates up to the stratosphere, it reacts with ozone and depletes it.

The growing demand for food and feed for animals and increased usage of fertilizers will further increase global nitrous oxide emissions.

Picture Credit : Google

How playing cards has an ancient Indian connection?



Playing cards are supposed to have originated in Tang China, but were very popular in India as Krida patram, and later in Mughal times as Ganjifa. Beautiful round cards in materials like Ivory, wood, and silk were made.



Modern Polo was picked up by the British in the 19th century from a game played by Manipuri royalty in North East India. However, it is a 2000-year-old game from Persia, which had spread to India, China and even the Byzantine Empire. The Persian name was Chogan, but it was called Pulu in Manipur, which means wooden ball. It was a favourite of royalty. Qutbuddin Aibak died playing it in Lahore. Akbar invented a flaming ball so that he could play it at night. Variations like Elephant Polo were also popular.



 



Picture Credit : Google


How martial arts of Kung Fu has an ancient Indian connection?



Shaolin Kung Fu was the first institutionalised martial art in China, which influenced others like judo and karate. The story of its origin in the temple of Shaolin is given in various Chinese texts. An Indian monk Bodhidharma, who is supposed to have been a Pallava prince, came to China in the 6th century.



“The Dharma Master was a South Indian of the Western Region. He was the third son of a great Indian king. His ambition lay in the Mahayana path, and so he put aside his white layman’s robe for the black robe of a monk [...] Lamenting the decline of the true teaching in the outlands, he subsequently crossed distant mountains and seas, travelling about propagating the teaching in Han and Wei.”



After many years, he started living in the Shaolin temple, and developed the Chan (from “Dhyan”) school of mediation, which became “Zen” in Japan. In the classical Yoga approach, he believed that physical fitness of the monks was eesential for concentration, and developed exercises like martial arts, as he had been trained as a warrior. One can see the resemblance between Shaolin Kung Fu and surviving Indian Martial arts like Kalaripayattu. He is known as Damo in China, Daruma dolls are very popular in Japan, depicting him with a black curly beard.



 



Picture Credit : Google


The future of natural gas

Although new areas of gas are being found from time to time, we are using up our known supplies of natural gas very quickly. Scientists are now looking for alternative sources of natural gas. They are also trying to find fuels that do not cause as much pollution.





 



There are natural gas supplies deep in the Arctic ice.



This natural gas has been found in wet snow and ice. The Arctic could be a useful new source of natural gas. However, extracting the gas might seriously damage the natural balance of the area.



 



 





 



 



New ways of drilling for gas do not damage the natural environment.



Powerful laser beams of light can be used to drill into the ground. This causes less pollution than a huge mechanical drill. Instead of building offshore rigs, robotic machines are sent to the bottom of the ocean.



 



 





 



 



Seaweed can be turned into gas.



Ocean plants, such as sea kelp, can be turned into methane gas that we can burn for energy. Sea kelp farms have been set up in the ocean to grow the seaweed. In the future, huge kelp farms could produce renewable gas energy.



 


Saving gas today

We can’t replace natural gas but we can use less energy. Insulation and double glazing in your home help to save heat. Even just turning off lights when not needed can make a big difference! Saving energy also reduces pollution.





 



 



 



Recycling can save energy.



Materials such as glass and plastic can be recycled. This means that they can be broken down and used to make something new. Recycling uses less energy than making objects from new glass or plastic. If you recycle two glass bottles it saves enough to boil five cups of tea!



 



 





 



 



 



Turning down the heating can save gas.



In most homes, more than half of the energy used is for heating. You can save gas by turning the heating down slightly and wearing a jumper instead. Boilers that only heat your water when you need it are also a good way to save energy.



 





 



 



Factories could also save a lot more energy.



Gas is widely used in industry. Factories need to reduce the amount of energy that  they are using. Some factories are buying more efficient equipment that needs less energy to work. Factories are also looking at ways to reduce the amount of polluting gases that they release into the air.



 


Gas alternatives



 



Natural gas from the ground is not the only gas that we can use for fuel. There are other types of gas that we can use. We can also make natural gas from other materials, such as coal, or rotting plants or vegetables.



 



 



 



 





 



Cow manure can be used to make gas.



Methane is a gas found in cow manure, human waste and rotting rubbish. We burn the methane gas from cow manure to make fuel. The manure is put in special tanks to collect the methane which we call ‘biogas’. This gas can be used for heating and lighting, or to generate electricity.



 



 





 



 



 



 



Waste dumps create gas that can be used as a fuel.



Scientists are looking at other ways to make natural gas from rotting waste material. Methane is taken from landfill sites where it collects as the rubbish breaks down. The vegetable remains that we throw away can also be turned into gas.



 



 





 



 



 



Gas can be taken from coal.



Heating and refining coal in a power station can remove polluting gases like sulphur. The remaining gases can then be heated to turn gas turbines that produce electricity. There is currently mare coal than gas in the world. If gas runs out, some countries may use coal to make energy.


Will natural gas last forever?



 



We are using up natural gas supplies very quickly. One day, we will run out of this form of energy. We need to find alternative sources of energy before it is too late.



 



 



 



 





 



 



 



Some countries do not use fossil fuels very often. Other countries use them all the time.



In the industrialized world, we depend on fossil fuels for energy. Burning fossil fuels causes pollution. Pollution has an effect around the world, causing problems such as extreme weather patterns. Even countries that have limited energy sources are affected by pollution.



 



 





 



 



 



We can’t reuse or replace natural gas.



Natural gas is a non-renewable fuel. When supplies have been used up, it will take millions of years to make any more. However, some fuels, like wood, are renewable. We plant new trees so that there are always supplies of wood.



 



 





 



 



We are using up fossil fuels very quickly.



In 2003, scientists estimated that, at the rate we are using energy, there is enough natural gas left for about 66 years. Other scientists argue that new discoveries of natural gas deposits mean that we won’t run out of this fuel quite so soon.