Importance of this Unit to the Course
Economic advancement and enhanced
living conditions in industrialized societies have been achieved through
increased consumption of energy. But this increased use of energy has been the
cause of changes in atmospheric chemistry as discussed in Block 1. And as other
nations with very large populations, such as China and India, aspire to economic
advancement they will likely contribute proportionally more to future changes in
these environmental conditions.
Objectives
Preparation for Discussion (You must complete this section before class.)
Discussion (online /
face-to-face) (See your portfolio for due dates and times)
A major component of the course is participation in the online dialog.
The following types of comments are required:
How much fossil-fuel-derived CO2 did your personal total consumption for the year 2001 contribute to the total anthropogenic-induced atmospheric increase? You should calculate not only fuel used in your auto but consumption of electricity, heat for your apartment, energy generated for producing all the consumables you purchased in 2001. For comparison, the average Iowan puts about 20,000 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere per year.
Additional Reading