Random graphic of the day: UNEP/GRID-Arendal Maps and Graphics Library

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by source, 2004

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:18 -0100

Overall, agriculture (cropping and livestock) contributes 13.5 % of global greenhouse gas emissions mostly through emissions of methane and nitrous oxide (about 47% and 58% of total anthropogenic emissions of CH4 and N2O, respectively). The largest producer is power generation at 25.9% followed by industry with 19.4%.

Main greenhouse gases

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:04:07 -0100

A table of the main greenhouse gases and their attributes, sources and concentration levels from 1998. Naturally occurring greenhouse gases include water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. Greenhouse gases that are not naturally occurring include hydro-fl uorocarbons (HFCs), perfl uorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafl uoride (SF6), which are generated in a variety of industrial processes. Water vapour is the most abundant greenhouse gas. However, human activities have little direct impact on its concentration in the atmosphere. In contrast, we have a large impact on the concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. In order to be able to compare how different gases contribute to the greenhouse effect, a method has been developed to estimate their global warming potentials (GWP). GWPs depend on the capacity of greenhouse gas molecules to absorb or trap heat and the time the molecules remain in the atmosphere before being removed or broken down. The GWP of carbon dioxide is 1 (constant for all time periods) and the GWPs of other greenhouse gases are measured relative to it. Even though methane and nitrous oxide have much higher GWPs than carbon dioxide, because their concentration in the atmosphere is much lower, carbon dioxide remains the most important greenhouse gas, contributing about 60% to the enhancement of the greenhouse effect.

Renewable surface water produced internally

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:03:38 -0100

It is difficult to determine the amount of renewable water produced internally from the total renewable water resources (external and internal). However the FAO gives a rather precise definition of this indicator. Internal Renewable Water Resources (IRWR) includes: - Average precipitation: long-term double average over space and time of the precipitation falling on the country in a year. - Surface water produced internally: long-term average annual volume of surface water generated by direct runoff from endogenous precipitation. - Groundwater produced internally: long-term annual average groundwater recharge, generated from precipitation within the boundaries of the country (estimated by the annual infiltration rate (in arid countries) or river base flow (in humid countries). - Overlap between surface water and groundwater: part of the renewable water resources common to both surface water and groundwater. It is equal to groundwater drainage into rivers (typically, base flow of rivers) minus seepage from rivers into aquifers. - Total internal renewable water resources: long-term average annual flow of rivers and recharge of aquifers generated from endogenous precipitation. Double counting of surface water and groundwater resources is avoided by deducting the overlap from the sum of the surface water and groundwater resources.

Do you really save time?

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:03:30 -0100

Train versus plane in a busy world

Carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems vs. great ape distribution

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:02:17 -0100

All great ape species predominantly live in tropical rainforests, which are among the most carbon-rich areas in the world. This overlap between the areas where great apes occur and carbon indicates that more potential synergies between great apes and carbon conservation exist.

Shift in climatic zones, Arctic scenario

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:01:44 -0100

The scenarios from the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) project that temperatures will increase dramatically in the Arctic, more than in many other parts of the world. This leads to effects, such as the decrease of area (e.g. tundra) under continous permafrost, the northward move of the tree line and the decrease of Arctic Sea Ice. The synthesis is based on several different models and ensables and this map depicts the situation at the end of this century.

Human impact in the coastal zones

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:01:37 -0100

Infrastructure development, intensive agricultural expansion, urbanisation and coastal development are increasing the flow of sediments and sewage into the ocean. The situation is most severe around Europe, the East coast of the United States, East of China and in Southeast Asia. These are also primary fishing grounds. Coastal zones are identified as approximately 75 km from the coastline, and this map identifies the most common impact class in this zone.

The potential impact of a 5-metre sea level rise in Florida (left) and Southeast Asia (right)

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:01:26 -0100

No data

Trends in permafrost temperatures in the central and northern Mackenzie Valley, 1984-2006

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:00:16 -0100

Temperature monitoring in Canada indicates a warming of shallow permafrost over the last two to three decades. Since the mid-1980s, shallow permafrost (upper 20-30 m) has generally warmed in the Mackenzie Valley. The greatest increases in temperature were 0.3 to 1°C per decade in the cold and thick permafrost of the central and northern valley. In the southern Mackenzie Valley, where permafrost is thin and close to 0°C, no significant trend in permafrost temperature is observed. This absence of a trend is probably due to the fact that this permafrost is ice-rich; a lot of heat is absorbed to melt the ice before an actual temperature change occurs. A similar lack of temperature trend is found for warm and thin permafrost in the southern Yukon Territory.

Household Waste, Heftingsdalen

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:59:58 -0100

In 2005 household waste output was up by 10 000 tonnes on 2000, rising from 15 000 to 25 000 tonnes for almost the same population. Nor does this include 20 000 tonnes of business waste (construction, light industry and service sector). In all Heftingsdalen processes about 45 000 tonnes of waste, making an average of 720 kilograms per person per year.

Hazardous waste generation in 2001 as reported by the Parties to the Basel Convention

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:58:57 -0100

Hazardous waste needs to be monitored and controlled from the moment the waste is generated until its ultimate disposal. Proper hazardous waste control requires a plan to reduce the amount of waste generated or the toxicity of the waste produced. The most environmentally sound and economically efficient way of managing any waste is not to generate it in the first place (source reduction).