What happens when you burn leaves, wood, etc.? Does it contribute to global warming due to the c02 released?

Question

My dad burns a lot of this junk that's on my yard and it gives off this bad odor. He doesn't burn like plastic or any materials that aren't biodegradable, but just like leaves, tree bark, and other stuff, but this kind of stuff is like biomass which contributes to global warming due to the c02 released in it. I'm just wondering, even thought there's always the option of looking up my answer, seems like my laziness just took over instead. =] So anybody now if it does?

Answer 1

There is certainly C02 released, whether C02 contributes to global warming or not is open for debate.

Combustion is an exothermic chemical reaction which combines carbon and hydrogen (among other things) from carbon-based fuel such as oil, coal, and wood to produce heat, leaving CO2 and H20 as byproducts. Unless you are burning pure hydrogen (which yields only heat and water) or are using a fuel cell, all carbon-based fuels produce CO2.

But compared to coal-burning power plants, millions of hydocarbon-burning cars in the world, and forest fires, the amount of CO2 produced by backyard burning is not even measurable. The contribution that CO2 makes to global warming is uncertain, but burning back yard waste like leaves and grass is negligible. It does it all add up.

Some people would argue that the CO2 produced from burning biomass such as wood is consumed by other vegetation during photosynthesis in a "carbon neutral" cycle, but there is no shortage of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Answer 2

If you beleive Al Gore. I think that we are just in normal warming cycle before the next Ice Age. In the 1970's the wacko environmentalists were predicting a nuclear winter. When you burn any carbohydrate you end up with Carbon Dioxide and Water, When plants grow they combine Carbon Dioxide and water and make carbohydrate. If you grow as much as you burn ( and quite often we grow more) you have a Carbon neutral system.

Answer 3

Hi, yes it does. When he burns it he is producing smoke, which I am pretty sure contains CO2. ^^ This becomes trapped in our atmosphere and the depleats the ozone layer. They things protect us from the suns harmful UV rays.

Answer 4

it does. deforestation is caused mostly by burning fossil fuels, but deforestation is greatly a cause.

IN SHORT, it does

Answer 5

ofcourse.