Animated Map Visualizes Greenhouse Gas Sources

Where U.S. carbon dioxide emissions come from...and where they go.

By Dawn Stover Posted 04.07.2008 at 4:53 pm 4 Comments

Vulcan CO2 Map: Color-coded for output density Purdue University

A new system for mapping carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. will help regulators figure out exactly where these emissions are coming from and how best to reduce them. Among human-produced gases that contribute to climate change, carbon dioxide is public enemy number one.

A group of researchers at Purdue University, led by atmospheric scientist Kevin Gurney, created the interactive mapping system. Called Vulcan, the system tracks the hourly output of carbon dioxide—emitted when fossil fuels such as coal and gasoline are burned—from factories, power plants and other sources across the country. Vulcan shows carbon dioxide emissions at a scale that is 100 times more detailed than previous maps.

Vulcan has already revealed that the southeastern U.S. is a much more important source of emissions than previously realized. Also, the maps reveal that much of the carbon dioxide gas emitted into the atmosphere gets blown toward the north Atlantic.

Animated versions of the map [see video below] show how emissions fluctuate from day to night, and from summer to winter. For example, scientists have discovered that some regions experience huge releases of carbon dioxide in the late winter. The Vulcan data is available for anyone to download. The researchers are also working on a mapping system called the Hestia Project, which will quantify carbon dioxide emissions around the planet.

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4 Comments

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usernamelevi13

04/08/08 at 10:25 am

a giant red area over each major city....who would of thought....

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NotImpressed

04/08/08 at 10:38 am

Funny how all 50 of the "Greenest" cities show up real nice on the map.....in red

also, wondering how the amount of CO2 can change right on a State line.........I just don't get it

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KarstenHWeiss

04/09/08 at 10:47 am

It is not a big surprise to see that there is more pollution where there are more people. Nevertheless, it is often said that people in urban areas pollute less per person. People who live in the suburbs or country drive more, have bigger houses, heat more, use less public transportation, etc. Wealthy people tend to live in the country (or several places) while living a much more wasteful life-style.

I would like to see a map that shows pollution PER PERSON. With that data we could learn who in the USA lives the biggest and which areas have a lifestyle that has less negative effects. With that information we can learn from those who have figured it out (or have no means to live the damaging life-style).

A World map with pollution data PER PERSON would be even better. How about a map that shows which people live not above sustainable if viewed on a global scale, and those who live beyond that threshold? How great it would be to visualize to what levels we have to reduce our consumption and pollution levels in the USA.

Karsten
--
http://www.polluteless.com
Practical Advice to Pollute Less

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rpflo

04/16/08 at 4:10 pm

Are you sure that's not just a fancier version of the presidential results map?

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/