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Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

FROM VOLUME 2, NUMBER 2, FEBRUARY 1989

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS...
COMMENTARY

Item #d89feb32

"Can Plankton Control Climate?" T. Slingo (NCAR, POB 3000, Boulder CO 80307), Nature, 336(6198), p. 421., Dec. 1988.

Explains suggestion that oceanic plankton and dimethylsulfide emissions could influence the climate in a feedback mechanism on cloud reflectivity. Schwartz (see PROF. PUBS./GEN. INTEREST, this Global Climate Change Digest issue--Feb. 1989) reports that a search for similar climate effects from man-made sulfur dioxide showed no such influence. Despite these null results for the only testable version of the Gaia hypothesis thus far, such work is important as a stimulus to work on the links between biological systems, atmospheric chemistry, cloud physics and climate.

Item #d89feb33

"Environmental Challenges: More Government or Better Governance?" N. Myers (Upper Meadow, Old. Rd., Headington, Oxford OX3 8SZ, UK), Ambio, 17(6), 411-414, Dec. 1988.

Proposes that management of the world community needs innovative approaches. Suggests that private enterprise can play an important role, as can nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). A network of various sectoral and functional organizations can provide a higher degree of self-regulating stability than any global super-agency.

Item #d89feb34

"Carbon Dioxide and Climate in the Vostok Ice Core," S.B. Idso (U.S. Water Conserv. Lab., 4331 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix AZ 85040), Atmos. Environ., 22(10), 2341-2342, Oct. 1988.

Analyses of the CO₂, temperature and dust characteristics of the ice core, along with analyses of marine phytoplanktonic growth rates, suggest that the concentration of atmospheric CO₂ has not been the driving climate mechanism of the waxing and waning of past ice ages. In fact analyses suggest that ice age climate reduces atmospheric CO₂ levels, not vice versa.

Item #d89feb35

"The Greenhouse Effect and the U.S. Summer of 1988: Cause and Effect or a Media Event?" S.S. Schneider (NCAR, POB 3000, Boulder CO 80307), Climatic Change, 13(2), 113-115, Oct. 1988.

In an editorial, Schneider explains the double ethical bind of effectively communicating to the public the complicated issue of detection of a greenhouse effect signal in a noisy climatic record, while being honest about the proof of climatic change. Welcomes succinct explanations and familiar images that the media can use to maintain public interest in global climate change.

Item #d89feb36

"Healthy Forests, Healthy World," R.E. Train (World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th St. NW, Washington DC 20037), J. Soil & Water Conserv., 43(6), 438-439, Nov.-Dec. 1988.

Calls for a global climate convention on forest conservation and management to end destructive subsidies and development practices, target development aid for forest maintenance and restoration, commit nations to maintenance of biological diversity, and launch a global reforestation effort. Maintains that healthy forests are essential to the survival of life.

Item #d89feb37

"Does the Antarctic Ozone Hole Have a Future?" S.F. Singer (U.S. Dept. Transportation), Eos, p. 1588, Nov. 22, 1988.

Suggests that the trigger for the Antarctic ozone hole was a gradual cooling of the stratosphere, possibly due to general climate fluctuations, providing the necessary ice particles for polar stratospheric cloud formation which led to ozone depletion. With further stratospheric cooling through global warming, the policy implication is that the hole would not be much affected by further slow increases of atmospheric CFC, nor could it be removed by decreasing CFC.

Item #d89feb38

"Design of Thames Barrier," M. Beran (Inst. Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK), Nature, 336(6195), 104, Nov. 10, 1988.

Reviews the original barrier design calculations made as part of a recent study of Thames estuary defenses. Concludes that the greenhouse effect was not explicitly considered but that aggregate influences on sea level were.

Item #d89feb39

"Climate Change, Economic Growth and Energy Policy: A Recommended U.S. Strategy for the Coming Decades," A.D. Hecht (Nat. Climate Prog., NOAA, 11400 Rockville Pike, Rockville MD 20852), B.R. Döös, Climate Change, 13(1), 1-3, Aug. 1988.

In this editorial: the authors push for a clear national energy policy to deal with energy and climate change; consider economic and political responses; educate the public and international community on potential trade-offs; and initiate active dialogue between environmental groups, federal agencies and the energy and industrial community on how best to respond to future climatic changes. Proposes expanded research and monitoring of climatic change, establishment of United Nations educational forums in all regions of the world, and formulation of a long-term U.S. national energy policy built on increased energy efficiency and application of alternate energy sources.

Item #d89feb40

"Climate Change in Fact and in Theory: Are We Collecting the Facts?" T.R. Karl (NOAA-NESDIS, Fed. Bldg., Asheville NC 28801), R.G. Quayle, ibid., 5-17.

For the past 100 years, a mostly volunteer group of weather observers has formed the backbone of the U.S. National Weather Service Cooperative Network. With some changes in operation, it could become even more valuable in monitoring for climatic change. A similar worldwide network could provide comprehensive study of climate change in the detail necessary to form practical local-scale decisions.