Carbon dioxide capture is the extraction of it from industrial infrastructures like power plants. The carbon dioxide is then purified and compressed for transport and storage. Methods of storage include putting it underground within layers of rocks, or converting it to a solid form (mineral carbonation). Statistics have shown that the worldwide carbon dioxide emission is increasing rapidly. Due to this, the overall temperature in the world is gradually increasing. Carbon dioxide dissolves in water and this will make oceans acidic. As a result, there will be a rapid change in the nutrients for planktons and thus affecting all the invertebrates and water creatures down the food chain. Therefore, to prevent worse case predictions of the oceans becoming a layered green soup and the continued warming of the earth, capture and storage of carbon dioxide should be done as quickly as possible. Carbon storage is estimated to raise the cost of electricity by 20% to 50%. But if nothing is done to store carbon dioxide, money will also be wasted due to the damage by rising sea levels and extreme weather events. To conclude, carbon dioxide capture and storage is technologically feasible and it plays a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Government interventions might be required to make it economic. Suggestions include taxing and limiting carbon dioxide emissions and legalization of carbon storage. The scientific consensus predicts that the cost of stabilizing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will be reduced by 30% or more if carbon storage is implemented widely.
Citations
1) Greenfacts (2007). Scientific facts on CO2 capture and storage. Retrieved 21 September 2008 from http://www.greenfacts.org/en/co2-capture-storage/index.htm#1
2) School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, part of Scottish Center for Carbon Storage (2008, July 7). Carbon capture and storage. Retrieved 21 September 2008 from http://www.co2capture.org.uk/
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2 comments:
A good summary of the main facts about CCS, its benefits and possible problems. I especially like the phrase "layered green soup". It creates a strong picture in my mind of a damaged ocean. My main suggestion is to include more transitions when you go from one subject to another, such as from the fact that the overall temperature is warming to CO2 dissolving in oceans.
this summury totally agree that CO2 causes the globle warming and that we should take measures or we will lose more. actually I also cite one of your citations and it also introduce some uncertainties about the reason. so you show your view about this issue and support the CCS
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