Part 1.

Stella Models:
1. Fossil Fuel Combustion + Exhalation + Respiration+ Deforestation + Ocean
Release = Unknown Sink + Ocean Uptake + Photosynthesis. This is a
simplified representation of the real world because all models are simplified
representations of the real world. These models may not include all factors.
2. Fossil Fuel inflows and photosynthesis outflows are in terms of variables
instead of constants, like all the other flows.
3. Due to the introduction of ethanol, there was a large decrease in fossil fuel
combustion around 2006 in Model 2. Model 1, however, continued to grow at
a linear rate, as ethanol was never introduced.
4.
5. I think the introduction of biodiesel will lead to a lot less atmospheric CO2
emission, however, looking at the trend from Model two with the introduction
of ethanol, its fair to assume that eventually, fossil fuel combustion will
become the primary energy source again, leading to a positive correlation of
atmospheric CO2. This will slow, but not completely halt, the effects of global
warming.
6. Other ways to decrease atmospheric CO2 production may include recycling,
carpooling, electric cars, composting, using reusable bags instead of plastic
and paper, using reusable water bottles instead of plastic water bottles,
turning off lights when they are not being used.
7. Model 1:

1: Atmospheric CO2 ppm

1: 700

1: 500 1

1
1
1: 300
1958.00 1982.50 2007.00 2031.50 2056.00
Page 1 Years 3:34 PM Wed, Jan 18, 2017
Atmospheric CO2 (ppm)
Model 2:

Part 2

Ethanol is produced using different sources of starch. The starch is fermented

into a grain alcohol, which can be blended with gasoline as a filler. Many
grains and vegetables can be used to create ethanol, but in the United
States, corn is the primary contributor to ethanol. Converting plant into
ethanol can be incredibly challenging because of the resistance to breakdown
that lignin and cellulose have. These plant material are incredibly resistant to
breakdown into molecular sugar components. Ethanol is more
environmentally friendly, as it heavily reduces ones carbon footprint.
However, by using starches as a form of biodiesel, those products can no
longer be used as food. This can be very detrimental to underprivileged
areas, that require corn, grains, and other starches simply to survive. Also,
the increase of need for corn and other starches will require an increase of
starch fields, which take over land. This requires deforestation, which is
obviously harmful to the environment.
o https://web.extension.illinois.edu/ethanol/
Biodiesel is produced using vegetable and animals fats and oils, which are
forced to react with short chain alcohols like methanol and ethanol. Algae can
convert sunlight into energy, like most plants, but algae also has an
incredible productivity. The combination of those two components will make
biodiesel production not require large amounts of land, and no longer require
the use of fossil fuel combustion. Though heavily reducing the emission of
CO2, the use of biofuels will significantly increase the production of N2O, a
harmful compound.
o https://energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/algal-biofuels
o http://www.solarfeeds.com/biofuels-pros-and-cons/
Biogas comes from livestock waste and food production which gets
fermented and processed to produce energy. All of the biomass is put into a
slurry tank, which stores it for 2-3 days before bringing it to a fermenter,
 which is where conversion of biomass to biogas takes place. In the fermenter,
it is kept at a temperature of between 35-45 degrees while being mixed.
Biogas helps solve the issues of greenhouse gases and the destruction of the
ozone, as well as decreasing out need for fossil fuels. However, biogas can
not be created on a large scale, and it is unstable, making it prone to
explosions (much like nuclear power).
o http://www.bts-biogas.com/en/company/what-is-
biogas.html#p.development-process.-translate-to-english-mc-
entstehungsprozess
I would like to put a little more research into biofuels. At first, it seemed like
an amazing alternative to fossil fuel combustion. However, from further
reading, it seems like biofuels are something that really worries scientists and
environmentalists. Though it may be good to reduce carbon emissions, it
seems like there are other big reasons for concern, especially that it will be
taking away food production from a rapidly growing, very much needed
industry. It may also lead to a big loss of biodiversity and soil erosion. I am
excited to see what biofuel can become in the future, as I think there will be
scientific innovation to make it cleaner, able to produce more energy per unit,
and require less land to produce. As of right now, I do not think biofuels are
necessarily the right choice to move forward. However, I think that with time,
biofuels can become a leading agent to environmental change.
 Works Cited

"Algal Biofuels." Algal Biofuels | Department of Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Jan. 2017.

"Ethanol: What Is It?" Ethanol: What Is It? - Ethanol - University of Illinois Extension. N.p., n.d. Web.

22 Jan. 2017.

Green World Investor. "Biofuels: Pros and Cons." SOLARFEEDS. N.p., 05 May 2012. Web. 22 Jan.

2017.

"What Is Biogas?" BTS Biogas, Biogas Plants. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Jan. 2017.