Wednesday, November 12, 2008

CO2 + Warming = increased chemical rate of ozone production + water vapour = even more warming + toxic constituents added to atmosphere

"Ultimately, you inhale a greater abundance of deleterious chemicals due to carbon dioxide and the climate change associated with it, and the link appears quite solid," he said.

"The logical next step is to reduce carbon dioxide: That would reduce its warming effect and improve the health of people in the U.S. and around the world who are currently suffering from air pollution health problems associated with it."
For this study, Jacobson used the computer model to determine the amounts of ozone and airborne particles that result from temperature increases caused by increases in carbon dioxide emissions. Ozone causes and worsens respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, emphysema and asthma, and many published studies have associated increased ozone with higher mortality. "[Ozone] is a very corrosive gas; it erodes rubber and statues," Jacobson said. "It cracks tires. So you can imagine what it does to your lungs in high enough concentrations." Particles are responsible for cardiovascular and respiratory illness and asthma.

Jacobson simultaneously calculated the effects of increasing temperatures on pollution. He observed two important effects:

  • Higher temperatures due to carbon dioxide increased the chemical rate of ozone production in urban areas.
  • Increased water vapor due to carbon dioxide-induced higher temperatures boosted chemical ozone production even more in urban areas.
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