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Corn plants: Good for detection of CO2 Emissions

maize 1822

Humans have been increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in air by burning of fossil fuels, by producing cement and by carrying out land clearing and forest combustion. Fossil fuel burning leads to CO2 emissions, which leads to environmental pollution. The CO2 emissions in the atmosphere can be detected by various methods. The easy and cheap method is collecting the samples of corn plant leaves, which are easily available.

What is greenhouse effect?
In lower part of atmosphere there is troposphere within which there are gases known as green house gases. Some of them get converted to heat when sunlight reaches the earth. The earth is warmed up by absorption of heat by some gases. This process is known as green house effect. The process of green house effect helps in regulation of the temperature of Earth.CO2, CFC’s, nitrogen oxides and methane are green house gases. The emission of green house gases (CO2, CFC’s) by human process are causing which is the reason for rising temperature. . This unnatural addition to the greenhouse effect is known as global warming

There are two types of carbon atoms- Carbon -12 and Carbon -14.both the carbon atoms are different in weight. By comparing both the carbon atoms the distinction can be made between the CO2 coming from fossil fuel burning and that from the other sources. Carbon-14 atoms decay into Carbon -12 atoms, which dominates the chemical structure of fossil fuels. There is more of fossil fuel burning if carbon -12 atoms are in excess and carbon -14 atoms are less vice versa.
Corn plants are affected by the CO2 emissions. Plants give only an estimate of levels, there are many instruments, which can help in directly detecting the CO2 and other gases, but one can totally depend on statistical measures and instruments.

Are the plants perfect for detection of CO2 emission?
No, the plants are not perfect but they can be tested and compared to instrument data

In Southern and Central California and Ohio Valley fossil fuel burning takes place in excess. Corn plants can be best used for measurement of CO2 in given region of atmosphere, which results from fossil fuel burning.

Estimates of carbon dioxide emissions are based on how much fossil fuels are consumed which tells very little about amount of CO2 released in a particular area and amount being absorbed by trees and other plants. By using the corn plants for detection of CO2 emissions, the problem of global warming can be solved.

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Via: Discovery

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