Question –Which gas emitted by paddy fields is responsible for Global Warming?
(A)Carbon Dioxide
(B)Nitrous oxide
(C)Sulphur Dioxide
(D)None of the above
Answer-(B)
Context
- According to a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) found that intermittently (random) flooded rice farms can emit 45 times more nitrous oxide as compared to the maximum from continuously flooded farms that primarily emit methane.
- According to Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), methane and nitrous oxide emissions from rice farms could have the same long-term warming impact as about 600 coal plants (1,900 MMT per year CO2e100).
What is Global warming?
- Gradual increase in overall temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere due to green house effect is called Global Warming.
- The problem we now face is that human activities – particularly burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), agriculture and land clearing – are increasing the concentrations of greenhouse gases. This is the enhanced greenhouse effect, which is contributing to warming of the Earth.
What is green house effect?
- The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth’s surface. When the Sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases. This trapping of extra heat and causing the Earth’s temperature to rise.
- Greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and some artificial chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Possible Solutions-
- Researchers have found that Chosen farming techniques at individual farms reduced net greenhouse gas emissions from rice cultivation by as much as 90 percent by integrating shallow (mild-intermittent) flooding with co-management of nitrogen and organic matter.
-Anurag Kumar
References
https://www.edf.org/media/nitrous-oxide-emissions-rice-farms-are-cause-concern-global-climate
http://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/climate-science-data/climate-science/greenhouse-effect
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2018/09/04/1809276115