Foo - Cow Farts and greenhouse gasses?

My son's 7th grade science text book says that due to the increase global cow heard, cow farts are contributing to greenhouse gasses and global warming.

Discuss

All the cows in the world ain't got nothin on me. :D

Vegetarians fart a lot too

I've heard that methane from cow farts was one of the biggest contributors to the ozone layer hole. Seriously.

I've heard that methane from cow farts was one of the biggest contributors to the ozone layer hole. Seriously.

yep yep, and termites too.

yep yep, and termites too.

We are a gaseous breed.

The true answer to this question is a yes but..

You see cows emit methane because of the specialization of microbes in their digestive track. Now the methane breaks down in the atmosphere into carbon dioxide and ozone. CO2 of course is a greenhouse gas, but here's the rub. As with most biological systems we have a loop, cows eat plants, emit methane, methane becomes CO2, CO2 feeds plants.

With fossil fuels we're taking CO2 that's basically been locked away in the crust for millions of years and putting back into the air. During the cretaceous period CO2 levels were 2 to 4 times higher than they are today. Where did all that CO2 go? The carbon got locked up underground, and there it remained until some stone age man discovered this black rock that burns. The rest is history.

Now the methane breaks down in the atmosphere into carbon dioxide and ozone. CO2 of course is a greenhouse gas, but here's the rub.

Methane is a much stronger GG than CO2. It does not break down into Ozone. It most likely reacts with Ozone (killing the ozone that protects us) and then forms CO2 and H2O.

Methane is a much stronger GG than CO2. It does not break down into Ozone. It most likely reacts with Ozone (killing the ozone that protects us) and then forms CO2 and H2O.

You're probably right, I failed chemistry twice (I couldn't help it there were these girls who distracted me).

Jon farts more than all of the cows put together :p. They need to change the book to reflect that. :p

Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases molecule to molecule

I'm not voting...there's not 42 in the poll.

There is infact methane in the fart, but its doubtful that it has any real impact on global warming compared to all the other factors.

I've heard that methane from cow farts was one of the biggest contributors to the ozone layer hole. Seriously.

maybe we should strap lit candles behind all cows...then it would just be CO2 and H2O and a bunch of cows with black rearends :eek::D

No, we need to strap methane-powered turbines to their behinds.

In all seriousness, there are farmers who generate electricity from Cows, although if memory serves, it's from decaying manure in a 'barn' rather than straight from the top of the barn where the cows are.

There is infact methane in the fart, but its doubtful that it has any real impact on global warming compared to all the other factors.No real impact at all (http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0220/p03s01-ussc.html).

Livestock are responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse-gas emissions as measured in carbon dioxide equivalent, reports the FAO. This includes 9 percent of all CO2 emissions, 37 percent of methane, and 65 percent of nitrous oxide. Altogether, that's more than the emissions caused by transportation.

Now then, lets move to Tuvalo (http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/03/31/tuvalu/index_np.html) and make a killing on property once those stupid stupidheads realize GW is just a liberal conspiracy. :p

I'm thinking that the ever increasing size of the is the biggest culprit.

No, we need to strap methane-powered turbines to their behinds.

In all seriousness, there are farmers who generate electricity from Cows, although if memory serves, it's from decaying manure in a 'barn' rather than straight from the top of the barn where the cows are.

Yup...our family farm uses a methane digester to provide close to 100% of all of our energy needs. It's marvelous what those cow pies can achieve.

This thread probably needs to be moved to P&R.

well...I tried to Foo it!

I posted this in the spirit of Foo humor. Was not interested in the politics of global warming. I just find cow farts funny.

I posted this in the spirit of Foo humor. Was not interested in the politics of global warming. I just find cow farts funny.

I'm adding GW to the list of things that people have a hard time not taking too seriously.


The list
Jesus
Mohamed
Manbearpig
the Iraq War
Global Warming

;)

And cow farts are funny as long as you are standing upwind.

I posted this in the spirit of Foo humor. Was not interested in the politics of global warming. I just find cow farts funny.GW has to do w/ the climate. Politics has to do w/ silly humans... ;)

I feel offended