From: butler@cluster.gps.caltech.edu (Bryan Butler)
Newsgroups: alt.drugs
Subject: Re: Nitrous Source(s)
Date: 5 Nov 1992 22:45:26 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: cluster.gps.caltech.edu

In article <1992Nov5.050923.20228@uvm.edu> fduross@moose.uvm.edu.UUCP (frank duross) writes:
>From article <1992Nov4.232155.18223@netcom.com>, by howard@netcom.com (Howard Berkey):
>> In article <1992Nov4.021508.19301@uvm.edu> fduross@moose.uvm.edu.UUCP (frank duross) writes:
>>>From article <1992Nov03.211814.5096@ux1.cts.eiu.edu>, by cfthb@ux1.cts.eiu.edu (Howard Black):
>>>
>>>>     Where did you get this incredible (literally) gem of factoid data?
>>>> 
>>>>>warming from each molecule of nitrous oxide is about 230 times that of a CO2
>>>>>molecule.
>>>> 
>>>>     Ditto.
>>>> 
>>>   Miller, Tyler. _Living in the Environment_.
>>>
>>>Please tell me if I am misinformed.
>> 
>> You are very misinformed.  You are thinking of NO2, which is a major 
>> constituent of industrial pollution and photochemical smog.  Nitrous
>> Oxide is N2O.
>> 
>I am sure that my source said N2O...I can also sight an AP article from
>October 20, 1988 'Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide....', and also
>a lecture by Douglas Pens given in Utica, NY.  
>
>This is not a big deal, I just wanted to make people aware.  I am not judging
>anybody, nor am I condeming their actions.  I would however like to get a final
>answer.  I'll check sci.environment.
>
>-- 
>Frank B. DuRoss Jr.		'Emmancipate yourself from mental slavery, none
>fduross@moose.uvm.edu		 but ourselves can free our minds.'
>University Of Vermont                -Bob Marley

well, this thread is getting a little long, but i'll add my
2 cents worth.  nitrous oxide is somewhat of a greenhouse gas,
i.e. it contributes to global warming.  from Theory of Planetary
Atmosphere, J.W.Chamberlain & D.M.Hunten:

"Constituents other than CO2 may influence climate.  Minor
constituents that absorb in the 9-14 um transparency window
of the atmosphere (see Fig. 1.11) are especially effective
in enhancing the greenhouse effect.  Such molecules include
N2O, CH4, O3, and the halomethanes, CCl4, CF2Cl2, and CFCl3."

now, this does not address the numbers quoted (230 X as
effective), which would depend directly on the cross-sections
for absorption in the 9-14 um window (which i don't have at
hand).  however, the fact that it is a very minor constituent
(fractional volume of about 2.7 x 10(-7) as compared to
3.33 x 10(-4) for CO2) means that its total contribution is
relatively minor.  
   there is another major effect of N2O in the upper atmosphere, 
however.  it is a participant in the destruction of ozone (O3) 
in the following manner.  vertical transport takes the N2O up to 
regions where the following reactions take place:
	O(1D) + N2O -> 2NO + 3.54eV
	O(1D) + N2O -> N2 + O2 + 5.4eV    (stratospheric)
	N2O + hv(l < 2300 A) -> N2 + O(1D)
all of which then aid in the production of NOx.  NOx then
destroys ozone mainly by the following:
	NO2 + O -> NO + O2 + 2.0eV
which takes away a potential ozone (by taking away the
molecular oxygen), and also produces an NO which directly
destroys ozone via:
	NO + O3 -> NO2 + O2 + 2.06eV

at any rate, the amount of N2O liberated by any number of
people carrying balloons around is VERY minor compared to
the production from biological activity on the surface and
from industrial fertilizers.

        -bryan
         butler@cluster.gps.caltech.edu
      or butler_b@caltech.edu

"Instead of all of this energy and effort directed at the war
to end drugs, how about a little attention to drugs which will
end war?"       Albert Hoffman

Newsgroups: alt.drugs