The steady-state inventory of methane in the atmosphere is about 3E14 moles, and its lifetime in the atmosphere is about 10 years.  Calculate the methane emission flux that would maintain this concentration in steady state.  You will need to construct a mass balance budget for methane where the source equals the sink.  What happens to the steady state methane concentration if the lifetime is decreased by a factor of 2, assuming no change in the emission flux?  About how long would you expect it to take for the concentration in the air to approach this new steady state value?

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1LR
icon
Related questions
Question

The steady-state inventory of methane in the atmosphere is about 3E14 moles, and its lifetime in the atmosphere is about 10 years.  Calculate the methane emission flux that would maintain this concentration in steady state.  You will need to construct a mass balance budget for methane where the source equals the sink.  What happens to the steady state methane concentration if the lifetime is decreased by a factor of 2, assuming no change in the emission flux?  About how long would you expect it to take for the concentration in the air to approach this new steady state value?  

Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps

Blurred answer
Recommended textbooks for you
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science …
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science …
Earth Science
ISBN:
9780134746241
Author:
Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:
PEARSON
Exercises for Weather & Climate (9th Edition)
Exercises for Weather & Climate (9th Edition)
Earth Science
ISBN:
9780134041360
Author:
Greg Carbone
Publisher:
PEARSON
Environmental Science
Environmental Science
Earth Science
ISBN:
9781260153125
Author:
William P Cunningham Prof., Mary Ann Cunningham Professor
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Earth Science (15th Edition)
Earth Science (15th Edition)
Earth Science
ISBN:
9780134543536
Author:
Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:
PEARSON
Environmental Science (MindTap Course List)
Environmental Science (MindTap Course List)
Earth Science
ISBN:
9781337569613
Author:
G. Tyler Miller, Scott Spoolman
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Physical Geology
Physical Geology
Earth Science
ISBN:
9781259916823
Author:
Plummer, Charles C., CARLSON, Diane H., Hammersley, Lisa
Publisher:
Mcgraw-hill Education,