Subak, S., 1993, Natural greenhouse gas accounts: current anthropogenic sources and sinks: Climatic Change, v. 25 p. 15-44.
This article presented a study of the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the industrialized and developing regions. Within this study, it was not only the goal of the author to determine the amount of particular greenhouse gases in the atmosphere of the region, but also to determine and trace their anthropogenic sources. The greenhouse gases of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and halocarbons, were traced to such human activities as fossil fuel consumption, livestock abundance, agricultural tendencies, cement production,etc... It was shown that not only highly industrialized regions that consume large quantities of fossil fuels contribute to the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere, but developing nations as well. Within this study, developing nations share the responsibility for the release of these greenhouse gases which contribute to global warming.
Appenzeller, T., 1991, Fire and ice under the deep-sea floor: Science, v. 252 p. 1790-1793.
This article mainly concerned the recent discovery of deep sea gas hydrate deposits. These gas hydrates are "ice-like solids made up of gas molecules- mostly methane- caged in a crystal lattice of water." They have been discovered in mass quantities frozen under artic permafrost and in deep sea sediments. It has been hypothesized that this hydrate's instability to temperature fluctuation has contributed to the greenhouse effect. Any increase in temperature causes this fragile deposit to break down and release its methane gas--a greenhouse gas that aids the atmosphere's ability to trap solar heat.
Greenhouse evidence frozen in icecaps
Agriculture and fossil fuels
Burning and logging of forests
SUMMARY
Greenhouse gases, such as methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide,
nitrous oxide, and CFC's, all contribute to the phenomenon known as the
"greenhouse effect." Many human activities, especially since the advent of
the industrial revolution in the late nineteenth century, generate the release
of these greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. However, in recent years
scientists have determined that human activity is not the sole contributor to
the global warming trend. The greenhouse effect is a natural occurrence that
has endured since long before the advent of man. Therefore, the earth must
have its own natural methods of introducing greenhouse gases into the
atmosphere.
Anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases are as follows:
1. Energy consumption: (fossil fuel consumption, wood fuel consumption, fossil fuel production, oil flaring, and natural gas transport)
2. Land uses: (deforestation, afforestation, soil disturbances)
3. Agriculture: (enteric fermentation, animal wastes, rice cultivation, and fertilizer consumption)
4. Other sources: (landfills, halocarbons, cement production)
Natural sources of greenhouse gases are as follows:
1. Volcanic eruptions
2. Sedimentation of calcium carbonate
3. Metamorphism
4. Residence time of gases being at a longer rate than they are emitted into
the atmosphere
Reference:
Matthews, S., 1990, Is our world warming?: National Geographic, october, p.66-99.