captured and compressed carbon dioxide (usually in pipelines); and underground
injection and geologic sequestration, or permanent storage, of that carbon dioxide
in rock formations that contain tiny openings or pores that trap and hold the
carbon dioxide.
Carbon cycle All parts (reservoirs) and fluxes of carbon. The cycle is usually
thought of as four main reservoirs of carbon interconnected by pathways of
exchange. The reservoirs are the atmosphere, terrestrial biosphere (usually
includes freshwater systems), oceans, and sediments (includes fossil fuels). The
annual movements of carbon, the carbon exchanges between reservoirs, occur
because of various chemical, physical, geological, and biological processes. The
ocean contains the largest pool of carbon near the surface of the Earth, but most of
that pool is not involved with rapid exchange with the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide A naturally occurring gas, and also a by-product of burning fossil
fuels and biomass, as well as land-use changes and other industrial processes. It is
the principal human-caused greenhouse gas that affects the Earth’s radiation
balance. It is the reference gas against which other greenhouse gases are measured
and therefore has a global warming potential of 1.
Carbon dioxide equivalent (CDE) A metric measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases based upon their global warming potential
(GWP). Carbon dioxide equivalents are commonly expressed as “million metric
tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MMTCO 2 Eq).” The carbon dioxide equivalent for a gas is derived by multiplying the tons of the gas by the associated GWP.
MMTCO 2 Eq ¼ (million metric tons of a gas) * (GWP of the gas)
Carbon dioxide fertilization The enhancement of the growth of plants as a result
of increased atmospheric CO 2 concentration. Depending on their mechanism of
photosynthesis, certain types of plants are more sensitive to changes in atmospheric CO 2 concentration.
Carbon footprint The total amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the
atmosphere each year by a person, family, building, organization, or company. A
person’s carbon footprint includes greenhouse gas emissions from fuel that an
individual burns directly, such as by heating at home or riding in a car. It also
includes greenhouse gases that come from producing the goods or services that
the individual uses, including emissions from power plants that make electricity,
factories that make products, and landfills where trash gets sent.
Carbon sequestration Terrestrial, or biologic, carbon sequestration is the process
by which trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide, release the oxygen, and store the
carbon. Geologic sequestration is one step in the process of carbon capture and
sequestration (CCS) and involves injecting carbon dioxide deep underground
where it stays permanently.
Carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD) A chemical quantitative
measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen required for the biological oxidation
of carbon-containing compounds in a sample.
Carpenter bee (Xylocopa micans) They are considered to be household pests in
porch posts, barn beams, and other wooden structures. Both males and females
overwinter as adults in nests constructed in wooden materials.
12 Glossary of Natural Resources and Environmental Pollution Control
433
injection and geologic sequestration, or permanent storage, of that carbon dioxide
in rock formations that contain tiny openings or pores that trap and hold the
carbon dioxide.
Carbon cycle All parts (reservoirs) and fluxes of carbon. The cycle is usually
thought of as four main reservoirs of carbon interconnected by pathways of
exchange. The reservoirs are the atmosphere, terrestrial biosphere (usually
includes freshwater systems), oceans, and sediments (includes fossil fuels). The
annual movements of carbon, the carbon exchanges between reservoirs, occur
because of various chemical, physical, geological, and biological processes. The
ocean contains the largest pool of carbon near the surface of the Earth, but most of
that pool is not involved with rapid exchange with the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide A naturally occurring gas, and also a by-product of burning fossil
fuels and biomass, as well as land-use changes and other industrial processes. It is
the principal human-caused greenhouse gas that affects the Earth’s radiation
balance. It is the reference gas against which other greenhouse gases are measured
and therefore has a global warming potential of 1.
Carbon dioxide equivalent (CDE) A metric measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases based upon their global warming potential
(GWP). Carbon dioxide equivalents are commonly expressed as “million metric
tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MMTCO 2 Eq).” The carbon dioxide equivalent for a gas is derived by multiplying the tons of the gas by the associated GWP.
MMTCO 2 Eq ¼ (million metric tons of a gas) * (GWP of the gas)
Carbon dioxide fertilization The enhancement of the growth of plants as a result
of increased atmospheric CO 2 concentration. Depending on their mechanism of
photosynthesis, certain types of plants are more sensitive to changes in atmospheric CO 2 concentration.
Carbon footprint The total amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the
atmosphere each year by a person, family, building, organization, or company. A
person’s carbon footprint includes greenhouse gas emissions from fuel that an
individual burns directly, such as by heating at home or riding in a car. It also
includes greenhouse gases that come from producing the goods or services that
the individual uses, including emissions from power plants that make electricity,
factories that make products, and landfills where trash gets sent.
Carbon sequestration Terrestrial, or biologic, carbon sequestration is the process
by which trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide, release the oxygen, and store the
carbon. Geologic sequestration is one step in the process of carbon capture and
sequestration (CCS) and involves injecting carbon dioxide deep underground
where it stays permanently.
Carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD) A chemical quantitative
measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen required for the biological oxidation
of carbon-containing compounds in a sample.
Carpenter bee (Xylocopa micans) They are considered to be household pests in
porch posts, barn beams, and other wooden structures. Both males and females
overwinter as adults in nests constructed in wooden materials.
12 Glossary of Natural Resources and Environmental Pollution Control
433