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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 7, JULY 1989

PERIODICALS

Item #d89jul60

World Watch, 2(3), May-June 1989 (Worldwatch Inst., 1776 Mass. Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036). In addition to the articles below there are pieces on desertification and items concerning technological advances in plastic and new government initiatives in Brazil and Canada.

"Sunburned Soybeans," C.P. Shea, pp. 9-10. New research suggests that the debilitating effects of greater ultraviolet radiation on crop yields will be compounded by enhanced levels of crop-damaging ozone at the earth's surface. The stability of future world food supplies depends upon the efforts taken now to protect the ozone layer.

"Plight of the Other Rain Forest," J.C. Ryan, pp. 10-11. Describes disappearing temperate rain forests in the United States, Canada and Chile. Suggests urgent reforms to protect temperate forests in addition to urging efforts to save tropical rain forests.

"Eating Our Way to a Warmer World," S. Fine, pp. 41-42. Describes sources of methane and its role in global warming. Without changes in energy use, waste disposal methods and food preferences, human-caused methane production will increase.

"The Greening of the Soviet Union," H.F. French, pp. 21-29. Soviet citizens and leaders are waking to the environmental crisis and efforts to reverse the decline may be critical to the success of Gorbachev's reforms.

"Cradles of Life," A. Durning, pp. 30-40. Advocates international and national reforms to fight poverty and deforestation in the tropical rainforest areas.

Item #d89jul61

"The Past and Future Amazon," P.A. Colinvaux, Sci. Amer., 260(5), 102-108, May 1989.

Natural disturbances (climate change, storms, flooding, erosion, fire) have influenced the Amazon River Basin through the ages. But nothing in its history has approached the catastrophic proportions of today's clearcutting practices. Conversion of much of the basin to pasture land will result unless wise and economic uses of the forests can be developed.

Item #d89jul62

"Can We Repair the Sky," Consumer Reports, 322-324, May 1989.

A comprehensive overview from the consumer viewpoint. Briefly reviews causes of the ozone hole. Explains what consumers, industry and government can do to mitigate ozone depletion.

Item #d89jul63

"Methane: The Hidden Greenhouse Gas," F. Pearce, New Sci., 37-41, May 6, 1989.

Presents current understanding of the atmospheric evolution and current sources of methane, and effective greenhouse gas that is increasing in concentration for unkown reasons. The article is based largely on the Dahïem Conference on biogenic gases and the atmosphere held in West Berlin in February.

Item #d89jul64

"Plants in the Greenhouse World," I. Woodward, ibid., No. 21, 4 pp. Special insert in the "Inside Science" series.

Presents a glimpse into the 21st century of changes in global vegetation as global temperatures begin to increase and patterns of rainfall change.

Item #d89jul65

"Glacier Bubbles are Telling Us What Was in Ice Age Air," J. Weiner, Smithsonian, 20(2), 78-87, May 1989.

Analyzing fossil air from glacier bubbles, atmospheric chemists create scenarios of earth's future climate. Historical data show that increases in lead, sulfuric acid and carbon dioxide can be traced to human activity.

Item #d89jul66

Acid News, No. 2, 6 pp. May 1989. A special issue for International Air Pollution Week, May 27-June 5, 1989 devoted to strategies to limit climate change. For information write to The Swedish NGO Secretariat on Acid Rain, Miljövård, POB 33031, S-400 33, Göteborg, Sweden.

"Strategies Against-Climate Change," pp. 1, 5. Addresses policies on energy, forestry, CFCs and other important gases developed by the November 1988 Climate and Development Conference in Hamburg.

"Nuclear Power No Solution," A. Stirling, p. 1. Even if all electricity were produced by nuclear plants, global warming would be reduced by only 12% because of the contributions of other sources of greenhouse gases.

"Energy Efficiency Best," P. Svenningsson, pp. 1, 3. Discusses opportunities for reducing air pollution through energy efficincy in the transportation, industrial and residential sectors.

"Best Standards Everywhere for Less Pollution," M. Walsh, p. 2. On vehicle emission standards in the U.S. and Europe and the UNECE's NOx Declaration.

Item #d89jul67

"Mission to Planet Earth Revisited: An Update on Studies of Global Change," T.F. Malone, R. Corell, Environment, 31(3), 6-10, 31-35, Apr. 1989.

Presents analysis of work already accomplished by the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program and the challenges that lie ahead in investigating the interactions of earth's physical, chemical, biological and social systems.

Item #d89jul68

"Methane--Bridging the Energy Gap," Options, 6-8, Mar. 1989. (Published by Intl. Inst. Appl. Sys. Analysis, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria.)

Findings from a recently released IIASA study suggest natural gas, methane, may provide an energy bridge to the future, pending longer-term solutions to energy problems. Suggests that the call for 20% reductions in CO₂ emissions by the year 2005 could be achieved by transferring to methane gas.

Item #d89jul69

Great Lakes United, IV(1), Spring 1989 (State Univ. New York, Cassety Hall, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo NY 14222). Contains the following items:

"Global Warming Is Ill Wind for Great Lakes," C.A. Zichella, pp. 1-2. Calls for personal and political action to slow the greenhouse effect.

"Toronto Pushes for CFC Ban," M. Campbell. The Environmental Protection Office (Toronto, Canada) has proposed a three-year plan to reduce the city's CFC emissions by 80%.

Item #d89jul70

"Cooling off the Greenhouse," Discover, 10(1), 30-31, Jan. 1989.

Presents novel ways of countering the greenhouse effect such as large orbiting reflectors that could direct extra sunlight to polar seas, or boosting uptake of carbon dioxide by plankton.