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ReefLink Database

Non-Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Non-Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Non-Greenhouse Gas Emissions include emissions of non-methane hydrocarbon, nitrogen oxide, particulates, sulphur oxide, and volatile organic compounds. These emissions pollute the air, which has a negative effect on human health and the health of animals.

CMap

Atmospheric Emissions include discharges of atmospheric pollutants, including mercury, greenhouse gases, nitrogen and sulfur dioxides, and volatile organic compounds from the operation of factories, vehicles, and other sources. Climate reflects a region's temperature, humidity, air pressure, and weather. Cultural services are the nonmaterial benefits people obtain from ecosystems through spiritual enrichment, cognitive development, recreational opportunities, aesthetic experiences, sense of place, and educational and research opportunities. Discharge limitations are responses to regulate and control the discharge of pollutants and the use of chemicals. Discharges are the intentional or unintentional distribution of chemicals, debris, or other pollution, into the environment as a consequence of human activities. Economic markets and policies can influence financing and insurance, as well as drive consumer demand for certain types of goods and services. Ecosystem services are the benefits people obtain from ecosystems . Environmental monitoring describes the processes and activities that need to take place to characterize and monitor the quality of the physical and chemical environment. Greenhouse Gas Emissions affect the earth's climate and temperature, because they trap heat in the atmosphere. Improved technology refers to innovations in the production or distribution activities of factories, transportation, utilities, and other sectors that can lead to healthier, environmentally and economically improved practices that can save energy, resources, and money over time. Infrastructural policies are responses, including zoning, codes, or regulations, that impact the distribution and functioning of socio-economic sectors that provide infrastructure. Infrastructural sectors provide the physical, organizational, and technical support for the economy to function, including construction, utilities, transportation, finance, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and technical services. Industries in the Manufacturing and Trade subsector produce and sell food, beverage, tobacco, wood, plastics, chemical products, metals, electronics, and machinery products, in both wholesale and retail trade. Manufacturing and trade regulations are laws and policies enacted to control  production, distribution, and sale of goods and services. Non-Greenhouse Gas Emissions include emissions of non-methane hydrocarbon, nitrogen oxide, particulates, sulphur oxide, and volatile organic compounds. Ocean acidity reflects the pH of the ocean's surface, and is determined by dissolution rates of atmospheric CO2 and sea surface temperatures. The Reef Ecosystem includes a suite of abiotic variables that form the physical and chemical environment. Point & Mobile Source Controls are designated to monitor and limit water discharge pollution from point sources, such as factories, and mobile sources, such as boats. Pressures are human activities that create stress on the environment. Provisioning services are the products or ecosystem goods obtained from ecosystems, including seafood, genetic and biochemical resources, pharmaceuticals, ornamental resources, and water resources. The state of the Reef Ecosystem is the condition, in terms of quantity and quality, of the abiotic and biotic components including physical, chemical, and biological variables. Reef Life is the abundance, distribution, and condition of the biological components of the coral reef ecosystem. Regulating Services are benefits obtained from ecosystem processes that regulate the environment, including erosion regulation, natural hazard regulation, and climate regulation. Responses are actions taken by groups or individuals in society and government to prevent, compensate, ameliorate or adapt to changes in Ecosystem Services or their perceived value. Socio-Economic Drivers include the sectors that fulfill human needs for Food & Raw Materials, Water, Shelter, Health, Culture, and Security, and the Infrastructure that supports the sectors. Supporting services are ecological processes that indirectly benefit humans by maintaining a functional ecosystem for the production of other ecosystem goods and services. Toxics are chemical pollutants that are poisonous, carcinogenic, or otherwise directly harmful to humans, plants, or animals. The Transportation Sector involves comprises all modes of transportation (Aviation, Maritime, Mass Transit, Highway, Freight Rail, and Pipeline) The Transportation Systems Sector is segmented into six key subsectors, or modes, which operate independently within both a regulated and non-regulated environment, yet are also highly interdependent. Transportation management includes policies, regulations, and zoning designed to control the distribution and intensity of transportation networks, including roads and shipping channels, and vehicles, including cars, boats, and ships. Utilities specialize in providing basic services for public use, including telecommunications, water systems, natural gas, electric power, and waste management. Utility policies are those that put controls on delivery of utilities to human populations. Water depth reflects the height between the bottom of the seafloor and water surface, and is often indicative of distinct ecological communities (shallow water species; deep water species).

CMap Description

Atmospheric emissions from vehicles and factories can lead to atmospheric deposition of toxic metals, such as mercury, or increase levels of greenhouse gases and contribute to climate change and ocean acidification. Increasing sea temperatures, toxics, and ocean acidity can affect the survival and growth of reef life, including fish, coral, and other invertebrates. Many of the same socio-economic sectors which create atmospheric pollution benefit indirectly from goods and services provided by the reef which provides recreational opportunities and contributes to the cultural identity of the local community and drives coastal development. Atmospheric pollution can be controlled with point-source regulations and updating technology to reduce emissions.

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