Carbon SequestrationCarbon Sequestration

CE 394K.2CE 394K.2

Juan Moran-LopezJuan Moran-Lopez

Quote of the DayQuote of the Day

““I’m not a prophet or a stone-age I’m not a prophet or a stone-age man, just a mortal with potential of a man, just a mortal with potential of a superman. I’m living on. I’m tethered superman. I’m living on. I’m tethered to the logic of homo sapien, can’t to the logic of homo sapien, can’t take my eyes off the great salvation take my eyes off the great salvation of (false) faith. If I don’t explain what of (false) faith. If I don’t explain what you ought to know, you can tell me you ought to know, you can tell me all about it in the next bardo.”all about it in the next bardo.”

——David BowieDavid Bowie

OutlineOutline Mechanics of COMechanics of CO2 2 and climate changeand climate change

Solar PanelsSolar Panels

ReforestationReforestation

ConclusionConclusion

Radiation BalanceRadiation Balance

http://www.uwsp.edu/gEo/faculty/ritter/images/atmosphere/energy/radiation_balance_usgs_large.jpg

Electromagnetic RadiationElectromagnetic Radiation

Why COWhy CO22??

““Water Vapor is the most abundant Water Vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere…”—NCDCgreenhouse gas in the atmosphere…”—NCDC

Gas removed % Reduction in GE

H2O 36%

CO2 12%

O3 3%

Source: Ramanathan and Coakley, Rev. Geophys and Space Phys., 16 465 (1978)

Quantum MechanicsQuantum Mechanics

Trans.Trans. Rot.Rot. Vib.Vib.

LinearLinear

(CO(CO22))33 22 3N-53N-5

Non-Non-LinearLinear

(H(H22O)O)

33 33 3N-63N-6

Molecular degrees of freedom

Effects of COEffects of CO22 buildup buildup

Positive feedback cycle of global Positive feedback cycle of global warmingwarming

Acidification of oceansAcidification of oceans

Increase in vegetative growthIncrease in vegetative growth

Study Area: Austin, TXStudy Area: Austin, TX

Austin Power ProductionAustin Power Production

Austin Energy Power Plants

0

200

400

600

800

1000

Holly Plant* DeckerCreek

Sand Hill Fayette SouthTexasProject

RenewableEnergy

Po

we

r (M

W)

http://www.austinenergy.com/About%20Us/Company%20Profile/powerPlants.htm

Austin EmissionsAustin Emissions

http://www.texasep.org/html/air/air_4iss_txco2.html

Austin and Surrounding Austin and Surrounding AreaArea

Land Use Classifications

2003 General Landuse

GENLU2003

Single-Family

Mobile Homes

Large-lot Single Family

Multi-Family

Commercial

Office

Industrial

Resource Extraction (mining)

Civic

Open Space

Transportation

Streets and Roads

Utilities

Undeveloped

Water

Unknown

Area Percentages

12%

2%

19%

1%1%1%1%1%1%10%1%6%0%

42%

2%

0%

Single-Family

Mobile Homes

Large-Lot Single Family

Multi-family

Commercial

Office

Industrial

Resource Extraction (mining)

Civic

Open Space

Transportation

Streets and Roads

Utilities

Undeveloped

Water

Unknown

Land Use Area (sq ft) Area (sq m)

Ideal Solar Panel Area 21236983290 1.97E+09

Buildings 734243743.7 6.82E+07

Ideal Reforestation Area 4224320709.35 3.92E+08

Solar PanelsSolar Panels

Austin irradiance is 5.26 kW-h/mAustin irradiance is 5.26 kW-h/m22/day/day

This is a “Good” rating for solar This is a “Good” rating for solar powerpower

Estimated Available Area: 68.2 kmEstimated Available Area: 68.2 km22

Online ExampleOnline Example

Possible Energy ProductionPossible Energy Production

Solar Energy Scenarios

149.5

747.5

1495.0

2989.9

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

1% Area 5% Area 10% Area 20% Area

% of building area using solar panels

MW

-h/d

ay

Net Primary ProductivityNet Primary ProductivityArea Percentages

12%

2%

19%

1%1%1%1%1%1%

10%1%6%0%

42%

2%

0%

Single-Family

Mobile Homes

Large-Lot Single Family

Multi-family

Commercial

Office

Industrial

Resource Extraction (mining)

Civic

Open Space

Transportation

Streets and Roads

Utilities

Undeveloped

Water

Unknown

Net Primary ProductivityNet Primary Productivity

MODIS Land DataMODIS Land Data

61 km X 61 km61 km X 61 km

Centered at Main Centered at Main BuildingBuilding

Lat: 30.286Lat: 30.286

Long: -97.74Long: -97.74

Net Primary Productivity

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Year

kgC

/m2/

yr

Mean Minimum Maximum

Possible Carbon Possible Carbon SequestrationSequestration

Carbon Fixing Scenarios

0

12500

25000

37500

50000

1% Area 5% Area 10% Area 20% Area

% of Ideal Vegetative Area

To

ns

of

C p

er y

ear

ConclusionsConclusions

Austin can produce almost 1500 MW-Austin can produce almost 1500 MW-h/day with only 10% of building area h/day with only 10% of building area covered with solar panelscovered with solar panels

Trees in 20% of open areas can Trees in 20% of open areas can sequester almost 40,000 tons of sequester almost 40,000 tons of Carbon per yearCarbon per year