Thread: Kyoto Treaty & Soot From Burning Wood
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Old 11-11-2002, 10:18 AM
Larry Caldwell
 
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Default Kyoto Treaty & Soot From Burning Wood
In article ,
writes:

It is reported this morning on NPR's excellent "Weekend" program that the
burning of wood for fuel produces soot as a by-product, and that soot's
cumulative hindering of some sunlight is apparently actually
causing/affecting/contributing to weather havoc, for instance, regarding the
recent floodings in China.

Forest fires burn many times more wood each year than is consumed for
fuel, and the smoke particles color the atmosphere for a thousand miles
downwind. The fires in Indonesia not long ago were mammoth, because a
thick peat understory dried out and caught fire. Not only the forest,
but a bed of peat up to 60 feet thick was consumed. People were dying in
the cities from smoke inhalation.

The contribution that makes to the weather is anybody's guess.
Particulates do aid in the formation of raindrops and snowflakes.

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