How do you calculate the billion tonnes of CO2 for a country or person?

Answer 1

It's not really that difficult although there is a lot of math involved.

Basically CO2 emissions are the by product of combustion - gas burned in cars, coal burned in power stations and so on.

We can take a known amount of coal for example, burn it, weigh what remains and the difference is what's literally gone up in smoke. By analysing the smoke we know what it's made up of, how much CO2, H2O, SO2, CO etc there is in it.

From there it's just a simple step to calculate the total emissions based on the amount of fuel burned.

We know for example that power station X burned Y tons of coal and that each ton produced Z amount of carbon dioxide. Do this for all power staions and add up the totals to get an overall total. Carry out similar calculations based on the amounts of gasoline, aviation fuel, marine diesel etc that is burned.

These calculations are quite precise, where it's not so precise is attributing an amount for deforestation, agricultural activities etc. We can make a pretty accurate estimate of the amount of lumber that is cut down to supply each person with furniture, housing etc, the amount of diary products each person consumes etc.

Basically it's one very long calculation taking all components of global warming into account. This can be done on a countrywide basis and the total divided between the population to give a per capita figure.

There are other ways of doing it. We can analyse atmospheric samples and know exactly what's in the atmosphere, do this enough times and in enough locations and we build up a very accuarte picture of what our atmosphere contains. This works well on a global scale but can't very well be applied to a single country. This is the best way of comparing changes in the atmosphere over a period of time.

Answer 2

I'm not really sure that there is a way. Since diffrent amounts are given off from diffrent things, it will never be an acurate calculation.

I did still look and I found this.

-QUOTE-
"Now if your asking how much CO2 in is the atmosphere, according to Enc.Wik; the amount is about .046% of the total. Parts per million or of CO2 are 3 to 350 generally in the lower atmosphere. (remember thats per million)"

"an average US citizen emitting 20 tons of CO2 per year"

so if thats a person, cities would be more.

I checked on google and yahoo and couldn't find how to calculate the CO2. But I did find per person. and how many particles. So maybe you can figure it out by that based on the amount of area you want to know.

Answer 3

i'm certainly a" u . s . female". whether i replaced into born in a city my mum and dad moved to the rustic while i replaced into 4 years previous. i've got spent my finished existence surrounded via timber and a quiet existence. i'm able to force to the city or different activities if i %, and when I do, i'm continually so satisfied to be living house the place that's quiet, and site visitors is easy..shops are in uncomplicated terms some miles away and that i do have associates scattered right here and there. My assets is smack dab in the midst of a State woodland reserve the place no possible ever build. i like being on the ingredient of nature and the celebs at night are somewhat pleasing. in the spring i'm able to hearken to the flow that's located over the decrease back of my stone wall, making loud sounds that often take me back to the actuality that spring is decrease back returned! i like the common problems with existence and the traditions that contain u . s . residing. It replaced right into a stable existence for my babies as they grew up. i'm, and continually would be in my heart, a "u . s . female".....

Answer 4

This Earth atmosphere mass is being littered with exhaust Fumes from Gas,
Diesel and coal.
I think the per day output of a lot of these exhaust fumes are double what
they where 12 years ago per day.

Answer 5

you could watch it over time. Like if you had *insert heavy poluter* move in you may see enviroment changes over time based on area statistics. Also if that person leaves and you see a drop in polution you could get an idea between when he\she was here and not and have the difference there.
;)