White Ants producing CO2

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Euan McLean
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Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2010 10:21 am
Location: Toowoomba

White Ants producing CO2

Post by Euan McLean » Mon Mar 08, 2010 10:36 am

At P39 Peter quotes that white ants produce more CO2 per day than humans. Can I be advised where I can find this info?

sceptic
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Post by sceptic » Mon Mar 08, 2010 12:47 pm

Methane is more the issue with termites however their methane output is much less than that of human activities. The US puts ot the equivalent (in Terragrammes* of CO2) of 585.3 (in 2007) of methane whereas global emissions of methane from termites is only 20-29Tg.

Source: http://www.epa.gov/methane/sources.html

However, even that figure of 20-29TG is believed to be too high:

Global CH4 emission by termites was estimated on the basis of the CH4 emission rates by workers and termite biomass with the emission factors. The calculated result was 1.5 to 7.4 Tg/y (0.3 to 1.3% of total source), which is considerably smaller than the estimate by the IPCC [1994].

Source: http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/1998/98GB02266.shtml

*1 Tg = 1 million tonnes, carbon emmissions are generally written as CO2 equivalents which makes it easier for accounting purposes.
The truth is out there.

Euan McLean
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2010 10:21 am
Location: Toowoomba

White Ants producing CO2

Post by Euan McLean » Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:11 pm

Thanks sceptic, but I'm no further ahead, I don't understand the "language"
But another thing Peter said "human contribution to CO2 emmissions is +/- 5%?
I am 70+ and I remember years of more regular seasons than we have now, and frankly I am "worried" for succeeding generations. I'll quote James Lovelock (Scientist) of "Ghia" and Charlie Vernon of ABC Radio National Ockhams Razor 6Apr08 that are "warning" of events.
I think Peter's ideas need be tested. And pretty quick!

sceptic
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:17 pm

Post by sceptic » Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:51 am

Thanks Euan, what it means is that termite emissions are miniscule compared to human emissions. Generally everything is converted to CO2 equivalents, methane, from memory, has around six times the energy holding capability of CO2, so is basically a "worse" greenhouse gas. Methane levels are only a small fraction of total "greenhouse gas".

The Bureau of Meteorology has a good primer on climate and how it all works:

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/
http://www.bom.gov.au/info/GreenhouseEf ... Change.pdf
The truth is out there.

matto
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Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 6:20 pm
Location: victoria and southern nsw

Post by matto » Wed Mar 10, 2010 12:33 pm

My understanding from reading this statement is tat the white ants are releasing the CO2 that is locked up in the wood the consume/destroy.

matto
Posts: 48
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 6:20 pm
Location: victoria and southern nsw

Post by matto » Wed Mar 10, 2010 11:00 pm

ok so this CH4 and the science is all too much. white ants have been doing their thing since before the industrial age and will be doing it post oil.

http://www.carbonfarmersofaustralia.com.
Carbon Farming can give growers additional income while rewarding them for changes in their land management that restores soil health and farmland Biodiversity.

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