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Global Climate Change
By
David E. Wilson, Jr.
Photos by: David E. Wilson, Jr
 he
results of a recent television poll on global climate change reveals
just how much work remains to be done in educating the public on
this crucial environmental issue.
 ver
the past five years, numerous polls have consistently shown around
55-60 percent of Americans believe humans have no impact on the
earth's dramatic temperature rise of the past 25 years. To professional
climatologists and scientists this must be a baffling statistic.
 n
1995 a United Nations-appointed panel, represented by 2,000 of the
world's leading climatologists from 11 countries, concluded that
human-induced climate change is happening and will continue until
we lower consumption and seek alternative energy sources. The panel
represents the most comprehensive scientific assessment of climate
change ever.
he
real problem with people's understanding of climate change is that
it's too slow to see on a daily basis and special interests continue
to spew cockeyed numbers and half truths to keep from having to
compete with cleaner, more efficient technologies.
he
question scientists are now asking themselves is not whether the
planet is warming, but how fast will humans cause it to occur. The
science behind carbon dioxide-caused warming is well established
and easy to understand. The correlation between CO2 levels and global
temperature has been constant since the earth began. Raise carbon
dioxide levels and you raise surface temperature.
 hen solar radiation hits our planet much of it is re-radiated back into space. How much heat remains depends on how much carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other trace gasses exist to keep solar energy from leaving. No doubt the natural greenhouse effect has benefited the earth by keeping temperatures at about 60 degrees higher than they would otherwise be.
 ut
the current rate of emissions may be too much for the planet to
handle. United Nations scientists have agreed that the earth will
warm 2-6.5 degrees over the next 100 years. This may not seem like
a lot but the difference between the last ice age 10,000 years ago
and now is only 9 degrees.
urning
of coal, oil and natural gas releases about 6 billion tons of carbon
into the atmosphere each year. Burning and logging of forests contributes
another 1-2 billion tons annually by reducing carbon storage in
trees. The result has been that the atmospheric level of CO2 has
increased 30 percent from 280 to 360 parts per million (ppm) since
1860. The 11 warmest years this century have occurred since 1980.
At five tons of carbon dioxide per person per year, Americans produce
the largest single source of emissions.
 eanwhile,
global mean sea level has risen more than half a foot over the past
100 years and is likely to rise about 20 inches over the next 100
years if no action is taken. In keeping with increased temperatures,
scientists expect much of the worst effects to be on agriculture
with extremely dry and wet periods likely. Because climate change
has historically been comparatively slow, plant and animal die offs
are likely along with reductions in biological diversity.
 ll
of this granted, the most compelling reason to change habits now
is that industrial discharges and fuel consumption pollute the environment.
Fossil fuel burning, or atmospheric deposition, mostly from cars
and trucks, accounts for one third of all the nutrients going into
East Coast waterways, including all of those in the Keystone state.
Acid rain, also from vehicles and industrial emissions, is still
rendering hundreds of Pennsylvania and New England lakes and streams
lifeless. Recent research shows it is having devastating effects
on wood thrushes by killing of soil-dwelling invertebrates (their
food) at higher altitudes.
 sychiatrists
tell us the first step to recovery is to acknowledge we have a problem.
Acknowledging our indiscretion now can lead to the policy and behavior
changes that will save ourselves, our kids, and billions of other
living things major problems in the future.
Contact Dave Wilson
See past topics of In the Flow here!
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