SUMMARY
2 min 47 sec
Several studies have suggested that corn ethanol makes a modest improvement over gasoline in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. However, none took the concept of carbon debt into account.
Carbon is stored in the soil through the process of photosynthesis. Plants and grasses take in carbon dioxide from the air, and store it in their shoots, leaves, and roots as organic carbon. When these plants decompose, they leave some of their carbon in the soil. When land is cleared and soil is tilled to plant corn, or any other crop, the carbon from soil and the vegetation cleared is released into the atmosphere.
This release of carbon dioxide is called carbon debt, and when you take into account this debt along with the production process to create corn ethanol, ethanol can become worse than gasoline in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.
Therefore, even though ethanol may help reduce reliance on foreign oil, once you take into account the consequences of any related changes in land use, total greenhouse gas emissions may actually exceed those from gasoline.
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION AND TEACHING MATERIALS
Watch >> Carbon Debt
TEACHING NOTES / CONTEXT FOR USE
This short, simple, and informative video explains why ethanol can be more destructive than fossil fuels. It uses diagrams, clips, and cartoons that could easily be understood by nearly any age group. It would be perfect for a younger crowd (middle-high school) and a treat for an older one.
ASSESSMENT
Assessment is at the discretion of the educator as to how the video is applied and the expectations after viewing it.
REFERENCES AND RESOURCES
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SUMMARY
2 min 47 sec
Several studies have suggested that corn ethanol makes a modest improvement over gasoline in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. However, none took the concept of carbon debt into account.
Carbon is stored in the soil through the process of photosynthesis. Plants and grasses take in carbon dioxide from the air, and store it in their shoots, leaves, and roots as organic carbon. When these plants decompose, they leave some of their carbon in the soil. When land is cleared and soil is tilled to plant corn, or any other crop, the carbon from soil and the vegetation cleared is released into the atmosphere.
This release of carbon dioxide is called carbon debt, and when you take into account this debt along with the production process to create corn ethanol, ethanol can become worse than gasoline in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.
Therefore, even though ethanol may help reduce reliance on foreign oil, once you take into account the consequences of any related changes in land use, total greenhouse gas emissions may actually exceed those from gasoline.
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION AND TEACHING MATERIALS
Watch >> Carbon Debt
TEACHING NOTES / CONTEXT FOR USE
This short, simple, and informative video explains why ethanol can be more destructive than fossil fuels. It uses diagrams, clips, and cartoons that could easily be understood by nearly any age group. It would be perfect for a younger crowd (middle-high school) and a treat for an older one.
ASSESSMENT
Assessment is at the discretion of the educator as to how the video is applied and the expectations after viewing it.
REFERENCES AND RESOURCES
Are you absolutely sure you want to delete this resource? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Delete This Resource
Are you absolutely sure you want to remove this resource? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Remove This Resource
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