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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 3, MARCH 1989

NEWS...
RESEARCH NEWS

Item #d89mar13

"How Fast Can Trees Migrate?" L. Roberts, Science, 735-737, Feb. 10, 1989. According to research by M. Davis and C. Zabinski, if climate models correctly predict global warming, the rapid rate of temperature change will cause striking northward range shifts in major eastern hardwood species, with consequent changes to other woodland plants. Discusses conclusions of the forthcoming EPA climate effects report, based in part on this study.

Item #d89mar14

"Plan to Drop Ozone Monitor from Shuttle Protested," L. Cook, Not Man Apart (Friends of the Earth), p. 7, Nov. '88-Jan. '89. In response to protest by Friends of the Earth and five other organizations, NASA reconsidered a decision to delay the launch of the Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SSBUV) instrument, a delay scientists said would hamper the ozone monitoring program. The launch was rescheduled for October 1989.

Item #d89mar15

"Arctic Nations Draft Plan to Create International Arctic Science Committee," Intl. Environ. Rptr., 7-8, Jan. 1989. Representatives of eight countries including Canada and the United States, meeting in Leningrad, agreed to create an international committee by June 1989. Robert Corell of the U.S. National Science Foundation hopes the committee will facilitate global climate change research and overcome the drawbacks of working under bilateral agreements.

Item #d89mar16

"Increase for West German Ocean Research," S. Dickman, Nature, p. 4, Jan. 5, 1989. The influential Wissenschaftsrat, an independent science advisory board, recommended an additional DM240 million be spent over the next few years on ocean and polar research, concentrated on interactions between ocean and atmosphere and the study of marine ecosystems.

Item #d89mar17

"International Effort to Examine Arctic Ozone Loss Gets Underway," P.M. Zurer, Chem. Eng. News, 30-32, Jan. 2, 1989. U.S., European and Soviet scientists investigate the role of polar stratospheric clouds and heterogeneous chlorine chemistry in Arctic ozone loss, which is less than in the Antarctic but could affect more people.

Item #d89mar18

"N.Z. Scientists Say Temperature Hike Likely by 2050 but Not Melting of Polar Ice Sheets," Intl. Environ. Rptr., 18-19, Jan. 1989. An abridged version of Climate Change in New Zealand, being prepared by the Royal Society of New Zealand, concludes a 1.5 degree centigrade temperature increase there by the year 2050 is most likely, but ice sheet melting will not contribute significantly to higher sea level. This article gives other details in the report, part of the scientific assessment phase of the country's Climate Change Program. Interpretation of effects on social and economic activities and implementation of policy follow. Copies of the report may be obtained from the Society at POB 598, Wellington, N.Z.

Item #d89mar19

"Forgotten Feedback Disrupts the Greenhouse," F. Pearce, New Sci., p. 24, Dec. 10, 1988. Discusses the research of Gundolf Kohlmaier of Frankfurt University, presented at the November conference on Climate and Development in Hamburg, and related work by others. The response of forests and their soils to increased temperatures could introduce unexpected feedbacks in the greenhouse effect that are not currently included in climate models.

Item #d89mar20

"World Ocean Experiment Is Short of Funds," D. MacKenzie, ibid., p. 19. Scientists met in Paris to set in motion the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE), a massive, five-year study of the role of oceans in determining climate and how it changes. Under international planning centered at Britain's Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, scientists will begin three core projects in 1990. However, financial backing for the proposed $600 million program is not assured.

Item #d89mar21

World Wildlife Fund conference: Consequences of the Greenhouse Effect for Biological Diversity, October 4-6, 1988, Washington, D.C. The following articles summarize presentations and discussions from the conference on extensive biological effects that are possible:

"Is There Life After Climate Change?" L. Roberts, Science, 1010-1012, Nov. 18, 1988.

"Biological Response to the Greenhouse Effect," N. Shelton, Park Sci. (U.S. National Pk. Svc.), 22-23, Winter 1989.

"No Escape From the Global Greenhouse," S. Pain, New Sci., 38-43, Nov. 1988.

"How the Heat Trap Will Wreak Ecological Havoc," S. Pain, ibid., p. 22, Oct. 15, 1988.