In Cloud Generation of Greenhouse Gases

Even the most recent high quality data from ICOS, the European Integrated Carbon Observation System station networks confirms the co variation of both carbon dioxide and methane. The data presented below are recorded during 23-25 July 2016 at Mace Head and Carnosore Point, both located at Ireland. Scientific community has not been able to explain such parallel variations so far and ignores this rather unexpected behavior since we all accepted that methane can only be generated under anoxic conditions.

Here we show that desert dust and cloud interactions is the prime source that can able to generate millions tons of both carbon dioxide and methane under "oxic" conditions. The rate determining step is the production of oxalate by the prokaryotes embedded within the clay mineral structure since oxalate production ceases when desert dust sample is sterilized by Co⁶⁰ gamma radiation. Upon contact with cloud water the prokaryotes become active and releases oxalate as an osmosolute.  Dicarboxylic acids are assumed to be released by industrial activities since no one has ever shown that it can be produced by the desert dust upon contact with cloud water. Oxalate is used to attach the prokaryotes on the surface walls of the clay mineral and leaches inside the crystal mineral and combines with iron as to form iron oxalate.  All these processes take place within the synoptic scale atmospheric depression that is in constant movement. Iron oxalate produced within the cloud droplet necessitates the presence of sufficient solar light intensity as to decompose through decarboxylation reaction. If the solar light intensity is or above 200 W/m² at that latitude and elevation then decarboxylation reaction proceeds by transferring solar light energy and one mole of reduced iron Fe(II), carbon dioxide, and carbonyl radical is formed. Being a radical carbonyl radical may reduce iron or may combine with another radical as to form yet another oxalate molecule acting as a feedback mechanism. We have experimentally shown that both Fe(II) and carbon dioxide can be generated by mimicking the in cloud processes. It has been further shown that besides methane some essential amino acids are also measured in rain samples during the course of desert dust pulse events. Generation of an amine group is not easy and been the subject of scientific community since Miller Urey experiment.  Here we do show experimentally that the action of oxalate on the outer shells of fungi’s present within the dust veil can generate much required amine groups as well as the prime source of atmospheric methane formation under oxic conditions.  We have further shown that, in cloud methane generation under oxic conditions rely on the fact that the outer shells of the fungi’s is made out by chitin, long-chain polymer of an N-acetylglucosamine, a derivative of glucose, and the second most abundant natural polymer on earth after cellulose. Under the action of oxalate, methyl groups are being detached from the polymeric structure and methane is formed besides much required amine group as to form all essential amino acids, under oxic conditions, by a hitherto unrecognized process.

These figures given below for 23-25 July 2016 for Mace Head and Carnosore Point illustrates the increase at both CO₂ and CH₄ during the course of air mass that has been affected by Saharan desert dust. Such parallel variations cannot be explained so far since scientific community is not aware of this in cloud generation processes. The lateral magnitude of atmospheric depression can be computed by respective Google Earth-Modis satellite imagery couplings. Typical synoptic scale event can reach up to million km² area and even if we do assume a mere 1000 meters’ cloud thickness, 10 and 1 ppm deviation from mean CO₂ or CH₄ background levels, can easily reach to generation of million tons of carbon dioxide and methane quite easily. The magnitude of in cloud greenhouse gases generated by each synoptic scale atmospheric depression can easily be compared with the “annual” loads of many industrial nations computed according to IPCC rules. It should be noted that the processes that we are addressing is being generated within each synoptic scale depression that has been fed by desert origin dust on a global basis. We are certain about this fact since during the course of major Asian dust pulse observed in April 1998 monitoring stations like Minamitorishima, Mauna Loa and Barrow stations recorded similar simultaneous increases. In southern hemisphere following a Australian dust pulse observed during September 2009 similar increase in both CO₂ and CH₄ have been observed at Baring Head/New Zealand station. Thus what we are addressing is not a local but a global phenomenon. Such event is being recorded by each and every monitoring stations but simply ignored.

Thus we do suggest that scientific community should immediately consider our iconoclastic approach and try to estimate these natural greenhouse production mechanisms before imposing quotas thorough international treaties. Such computations can easily be achieved since the data archive at WDCGG or networks like ICOS can easily serve to make rapid computations. GCM’s should also be revised accordingly as to cover this so far unknown natural sources of greenhouse gases before addressing the global climate change issues.