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Does fossil fuel combustion lead to global warming?

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  • Schwartz, Stephen E.

Abstract

Tropospheric sulfate aerosols produced by atmospheric oxidation of SO2 emitted from fossil fuel combustion scatter solar radiation and enhance the reflectivity of clouds. Both effects decrease the absorption of solar radiation by the earth-atmosphere system. This cooling influence tends to offset the warming influence resulting from increased absorption of terrestrial infrared radiation by increased atmospheric concentrations of CO2. The sulfate forcing is estimated to be offsetting 70% of the forcing by CO2 derived from fossil fuel combustion, although the uncertainty of this estimate is quite large--range 28 to 140%, the latter figure indicating that the present combined forcing is net cooling. Because of the vastly different atmospheric residence times of sulfate aerosol (about a week) and CO2 (about 100 years), the cooling influence of sulfate aerosol is exerted immediately, whereas most of the warming influence of CO2 is exerted over more than 100 years. Consequently the total forcing integrated over the entire time the materials reside in the atmosphere is net warming, with the total CO2 forcing estimated to exceed the sulfate forcing by a factor of 4 (uncertainty range 2 to more than 10). The present situation in which the forcing by sulfate is comparable to that by CO2 is shown to be a consequence of the steeply increasing rates of emissions over the industrial era.

Suggested Citation

  • Schwartz, Stephen E., 1993. "Does fossil fuel combustion lead to global warming?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 18(12), pages 1229-1248.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:18:y:1993:i:12:p:1229-1248
    DOI: 10.1016/0360-5442(93)90012-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Lupa, Christopher J. & Wylie, Steve R. & Shaw, Andrew & Al-Shamma'a, Ahmed & Sweetman, Andrew J. & Herbert, Ben M.J., 2013. "Gas evolution and syngas heating value from advanced thermal treatment of waste using microwave-induced plasma," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 1065-1072.
    2. Jung, Jong-Min & Kim, Sok & Lee, Jechan & Oh, Jeong Ik & Choi, Yoon-E. & Kwon, Eilhann E., 2019. "Tailoring pyrogenic products from pyrolysis of defatted Euglena gracilis using CO2 as reactive gas medium," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 184-190.
    3. Gomes, Marcos Sebastião de Paula & de Araújo, Maria Silvia Muylaert, 2011. "Artificial cooling of the atmosphere--A discussion on the environmental effects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 780-786, January.
    4. Wang, Hongsheng & Wang, Bingzheng & Qi, Xingyu & Wang, Jian & Yang, Rufan & Li, Duanxing & Hu, Xuejiao, 2021. "Innovative non–oxidative methane dehydroaromatization via solar membrane reactor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    5. Kuşkaya, Sevda & Bilgili, Faik & Muğaloğlu, Erhan & Khan, Kamran & Hoque, Mohammad Enamul & Toguç, Nurhan, 2023. "The role of solar energy usage in environmental sustainability: Fresh evidence through time-frequency analyses," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 858-871.
    6. Rodríguez, R. & Bello, V.G. & Díaz-Aguado, M.B., 2017. "Application of eco-efficiency in a coal-burning power plant benefitting both the environment and citizens: Design of a ‘city water heating’ system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 789-799.

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