You are here:
TECHNOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR PLANNING THE GLOBAL CARBON FUTURE
Citation:
Hangebrauck*, R. P. TECHNOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR PLANNING THE GLOBAL CARBON FUTURE. ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT 34(9-11):737-744, (1993).
Impact/Purpose:
Journal Article
Description:
The atmospheric level of carbon dioxide (CO2) is the dominant variable in the anthropogenic influence of future global climate change. Thus, it is critical to understand the long-term factors affecting its level, especially the longer-range technological considerations. Most recent analyses of the problem focus on the next 20 to 100 years. While great uncertainties exist in longer-term projections of CO2, it is of concern that the longer-range buildup (over many centuries) may be of substantial magnitude and might be so despite major efforts to reduce use of fossil reserves for energy, save world forests, and/or collect and dispose of CO2. This paper summarizes some of the recent literature relating to the longer-term CO2 problem and discusses some of the technological considerations for known prevention and mitigation approaches in the context of this longer-term problem. These approaches include: renewables (solar photovoltaics, wind, and biomass), conservation, flue-gas and fuel CO2 sequestration via disposal on land or in the ocean, carbon recycling (chemical/biological utilization), and atmospheric CO2 fixation/utilization via terrestrial and marine approaches. These are discussed along with other strategies to identify those that 1) could be major factors in preventing long-term CO2 buildup, 2) would be environmentally sound but likely to have more limited long-range CO2 impact, 3) would be environmentally uncertain or uncertain for other reasons, and 4) would be environmentally questionable or unlikely solutions for other reasons.
URLs/Downloads:
Technological Considerations for Planning the Global Carbon Future (PDF, NA pp, 3222 KB, about PDF)Journal Access
