Anthropogenic Carbon Emissions

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Anthropogenic Adjective

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[an-thruh-puh-jen-ik]

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Anthropogenic

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Describes changes or pollutants in nature resulting from human activities rather than from natural processes.

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Example: Human activities like extracting fossil fuels and burning them in factories and cars release trapped carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2).

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Greenhouse Gas Noun

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[green-hous gas]

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Greenhouse Gas

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An atmospheric gas that absorbs and emits radiant energy, trapping heat and warming the planet's surface.

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Example: Gases like CO2 from human activities trap heat in the atmosphere, preventing it from escaping into space and warming the Earth.

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Carbon Dioxide Noun

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[kar-buhn dai-ok-said]

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Carbon Dioxide

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A primary greenhouse gas released through burning fossil fuels, industrial processes, and natural respiration cycles.

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Example: Burning hydrocarbons (like coal or gas) with oxygen creates carbon dioxide, water, and energy (heat and light), a key source of human-caused emissions.

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Methane Noun

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[meth-eyn]

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Methane

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A potent greenhouse gas emitted from agricultural activities, natural gas systems, and decomposition in landfills.

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Example: This image shows that livestock, such as cows, are a major source of methane (CH₄), a potent greenhouse gas linked to human activities.

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Nitrous Oxide Noun

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[nai-truhs ok-said]

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Nitrous Oxide

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A powerful greenhouse gas primarily released from agricultural soil management, especially the use of synthetic fertilizers.

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Example: This diagram shows how excess fertilizer used in farming breaks down in the soil, releasing nitrous oxide (N2O) gas into the atmosphere.

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Chlorofluorocarbons Noun

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[klor-oh-floor-oh-kar-buhns]

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Chlorofluorocarbons

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A group of synthetic compounds that act as potent greenhouse gases and deplete the stratospheric ozone layer.

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Example: This image shows an aerosol spray can, a common product that used to contain and release chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the atmosphere.

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Fossil Fuels Noun

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[fos-uhl fyoo-uhls]

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Fossil Fuels

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Combustible geologic deposits of organic materials, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, used for energy.

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Example: This diagram shows how fossil fuels, like oil and gas, are trapped in layers under the Earth's surface and extracted using machinery like a pump.

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Biomass Noun

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[bai-oh-mas]

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Biomass

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Organic matter from plants and animals, which can be used as a renewable source of energy.

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Example: This diagram shows that biomass is organic material that comes from various sources like plants, agricultural crops, animal waste, and municipal garbage.

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Carbon Isotopes Noun

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[kar-buhn ahy-suh-tohps]

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Carbon Isotopes

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Forms of the carbon atom that have different numbers of neutrons, used to trace emission sources.

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Example: This image shows the three main carbon isotopes (Carbon-12, -13, -14), which all have 6 protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nucleus.

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δ¹³C Noun

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[del-tuh see thur-teen]

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δ¹³C

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A notation indicating the ratio of heavy to light carbon isotopes, used to identify carbon sources.

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Example: Plants prefer taking in lighter carbon-12 (¹²C) from the air, leaving them with a lower ratio of heavier carbon-13 (¹³C) than the atmosphere.