Entropy, Pollution and Global Warming Essay -- Greenhouse Gases Climat

Entropy, Pollution and Global Warming The substances that we as human beings classify as 'pollutants' have always been present on the planet, because the earth is a closed system. The reason that these materials cause a negative impact on the environment, therefore, is not that they exist, but that they have been dispersed throughout the world's ecosystems in a very disordered fashion. To illustrate this, two pollutants of major concern will be considered, carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). CO2 and SO2 are both given off when coal is burned to provide heat or to generate electricity. CO2 is the most important greenhouse gas contributing to global warming, and SO2 is the main cause of acid rain. Carbon and sulphur have no impact on the environment when they are locked up in ...