Car Pollution – Buying a new car with a »tree included« ?

URBAN FILAMELANIJA VARGA

Gimnazija Moste, 2014Mentor: Mojca Orel

Comenius

INTRODUCTION

• At first glance, buying a car has no direct relation to trees, butthe connection is very much evident.

• In addition, photosynthesis and properties of CO₂ we knowthe consequences of excessive pollution by greenhouse gases.

• In the second part of this presentation we are going to learnthe basic calculation of CO₂, with a known fuel consumptionof a car at 100 km and vice versa.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

• Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants useenergy from the sun to convert water, carbon dioxide andminerals into oxygen and organic compounds.

• Photosynthesis happens when the water is absorbed throughthe roots of green plants, enters the leaves, where theprocess is carried out in the presence of oxygen and carbondioxide.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

• Photosynthesis provides us with most of theoxygen we need to breathe.

• People with breathing exhale CO₂ that isneeded by plants in the process ofphotosynthesis.

• Plants are essential for life.

CARBON DIOXIDE

• Carbon dioxide is a gas with the chemical formulaCO₂. In a small quantity (0.03 %) is present in theEarth's atmosphere where it acts as a greenhousegas.

• Carbon dioxide is a colorless gas which, wheninhaled in high concentrations (which is related tothe risk of suffocation) causes a sour taste in themouth, nose and throat.

• Since it is completely oxidized, carbon dioxide is avery reactive and is not flammable.

CARBON DIOXIDE

• Carbon dioxide is highly soluble in water.

• Approximately 1 % of the dissolved carbondioxide is converted into carbon dioxide.

• Carbon dioxide is particularly useful in weldingas a protective gas.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE AIR

• The average temperature of the Earth near the ground would be 18 °Cwhen water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone and several othergases do not create a natural greenhouse effect.

• More than 100 years ago, the Swedish physicist and chemist SvanteArrhenius found that a doubling of carbon dioxide concentrationsincreases the temperature near the ground for 4 to 6 °C.

• Layer of CO₂ retains infrared radiation in the atmosphere and the climateis getting warmer. The effect is similar to the greenhouse for raising plants.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE AIR

• If we consider the consumption of fossil fuels andsimultaneous deforestation, it is likely that the amount of CO₂will be doubled to 2040.

• With the use of petroleum products (petrol, diesel) wedirectly burden the environment, mostly with carbon dioxide(CO₂).

USE OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN TRAFFIC

• Data on the benchmark fuel consumption of individual carmanufacturers gets by measuring the car emissions of CO₂ inthe laboratory and on graduated cylinders.

• The measurements are also allowed on the road (withoutwind).

• Thus obtained values are recorded in a separate table, whichallows us to adjust settings and measuring cylinders on eachmodel and version of the car.

USE OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN TRAFFIC

• Benchmark measurement cycle fuel consumption according to EU Directive 80/1268/EEC takes 1180 seconds.

• Two-thirds of simulated driving cycle consists of four sections of city driving, remained third by driving on the open road outside of town.

• The driver, who sits in the car, follows the instructions on the computer screen.

TREES AND CARBON DIOXIDE

• The answer to the question how much CO₂ can be consumpted by atree varies and depends on the type, age and size of trees as well asthe quantity of leaves by the tree and the environment in whichthey grow, which means different temperature, humidity, rainfalland soil quality.

• For example of calculating how much CO₂ can be used orconsumpted by a tree we chose beech.

• Beech tree is almost 20 meters high and with a diameter of 12meters crown.

• This tree has 600 thousand sheets with an area of 1,200 squaremeters and covers 120 square meters of floor area.

• At 0.3 percent concentration of CO₂ in the air goes through thenearly 36 thousand cubic meters of air.

• Leaves filter airborne particles from the air, such as bacteria, fungalspores, dust and other harmful substances.

TREES AND CARBON DIOXIDE

• From the tree 400 gallons of water evaporate per day andmoisturizing atmosphere.

• The photosynthesis produces 13 kilograms of oxygen whichcaters the daily need often people.

• If a tree is cut down due to the construction of new roads,buildings or a complaint because someone gives too muchshade, we have to plant 2,000 new trees with a volume of onecubic meter of canopy.

• It would cost us about 600 thousand.

CONCLUSION

• Environmental pollution caused by automobileexhaust gases, which include CO₂, is becoming anincreasing environmental problem.

• The car manufacturers take into account theproblem, although they primarily follow profit. Theirmarketing campaignes try to neutralize the harmfuleffects of their products.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION