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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 11, NOVEMBER 1989

PERIODICALS

Item #d89nov58

"Earth's Shrouded Future--The Unfinished Forecast of Global Warming," E.J. Barron, The Sciences, 29(5), 14-21, Sep./Oct. 1989. (New York Acad. Sci., Two E. 63rd St., New York NY 10021)

Most climatologists agree that man's growing impact on the atmosphere will result in global warming; opinions vary only on when the climate will change, how much, where and how life on earth will be affected. Suggests that, by delaying attempts to combat the intensification of the greenhouse effect or moderate its impact, the government is taking greater risk than it tolerates in other areas of public policy.

Item #d89nov59

"The Heat Is On--The Greenhouse Effect and the Earth's Future," O.S. Owen, The Futurist, 34-40, Sep./Oct. 1989.

Considers the benefits and harmful implications of the controversial greenhouse effect. Enumerates recommended options in a suggested international law of the atmosphere to reduce global warming. Presents an opposing view by Larry Ephron that scientific evidence points instead to a coming ice age.

Item #d89nov60

"An Environmental Security Council?" H.F. French, World Watch 2(5), 6-7, Sep./Oct. 1989. (Worldwatch Inst., 1776 Mass. Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036)

Introduces the Hague Declaration, which calls for developing a new or newly strengthened international institution within the United Nations system that would be responsible for averting climate change and ozone depletion. Suggests that this organization would work together with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on global warming negotiations.

Item #d89nov61

"Global Climate Change," D.K. Hall, Sci. Teacher, 56(6), 66-70, Sep. 1989.

Reviews historical climate changes, suggesting that conclusions about their causes must be drawn with care. Maintains that monitoring sea ice, snow, glaciers and ice sheets is essential to be able to predict man's impact on our future climate.

Item #d89nov62

"The Two Faces of Ozone," R. Monastersky, Sci. News, 136, Sep. 2, 1989.

In a question and answer approach, the author attempts to answer underlying questions about ozone that the media leaves unanswered. Explains the differing problems involving ozone near the earth's surface and high in the atmosphere, and that the only realistic way to deal with stratospheric ozone depletion is to plug up existing holes by completely banning CFC use.

Item #d89nov63

Special Section: "Costing the Earth--A Survey of the Environment," Economist, 18 pp., Sep. 2, 1989. Reprints available at £1.25 per copy, 90 p for schools; min. order of 10. Contact: Sarah Gray in London (tel: 01-839-7000) or Bradley Cleaton in New York (212-541-5730).

Deals with global and environmental problems and related political and economic policies. Suggests that sensible `green' policies will require large changes by the private and public sector. Maintains that sustainable development is a useful concept in theory but needs reexamination to be put into practice.

Item #d89nov64

"Der Strahlungshaushalt der Erde (The Radiation Budget of the Earth)," E. Raschke, Naturwissenschaften, 76(8), 351-357, Aug. 1989. In German, English summary.

Climate models have shown that there is a coupling between clouds and the general circulation and that an increase in temperature could be offset to some extent by an increase in cloud amount. Suggests that monitoring clouds and their interaction with the radiation budget, and monitoring the radiation budget itself, are most important to modern climate research.

Item #d89nov65

"The Consequences of Global Warming for Biological Diversity," P.S. Cubberly, World Wildlife Fund Lett., 1-8, Aug. 1989. (World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th St. NW, Washington DC 20037)

Explains how researchers are just beginning to understand how plants and animals will cope with global warming. To encourage research the World Wildlife Fund held a conference in October 1988 to bring scientists, policy makers and journalists together on this problem.

Item #d89nov66

"Global Climate Change," D.E. Gushee, Chemtech, 19(8), 470-479, Aug. 1989.

Summarizes current understanding of greenhouse climate change and related political and administration responses to date. Urges coordination among U.S. institutions working on climate change issues.

Item #d89nov67

Special Report: "Cleaning Up Our Mess," G. Easterbrook, Newsweek, 26-43, July 24, 1989.

In an extensive article the author attempts to put into perspective various environmental problems. Reviews air, water and ecosphere changes and explains Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs that work. After an EPA crackdown on 320 air pollutants in 1970, 313 are still unregulated and being emitted by industry.

Item #d89nov68

"Saving the Ozone Layer," F. Barnaby, Ambio, XVIII(4), 245, 1989.

The United Kingdom's Stratospheric Ozone Review Group's second report confirms that the Antarctic depletion of the ozone layer is caused by the action of chlorofluorocarbons. Discusses the outcome of a conference hosted by the British Government in response to these results (Saving the Ozone Layer, London, March 1989).

Item #d89nov69

"Coming to Terms: Toward a North-South Bargain for the Environment," J.G. Speth, WRI Issues and Ideas, 1-4, June 1989. (World Resour. Inst., 1709 New York Ave. NW, Washington DC 20006)

Presents four priorities for industrial country initiatives to meeting international environmental challenges: (1) reduce of greenhouse gas emissions, (2) sharply increase the flow to the South of both new financing and new technology for environmental conservation, sustainable development and population programs, (3) reduce the external debt burdens imposed on developing countries by their external debts, and (4) create new programs through which industrial countries can assist developing countries manage their environmental challenges.

Item #d89nov70

"The Heat Is On," N. Myers, Greenpeace, 14(3), 8-13, May/June 1989.

Outlines what global warming will do to our environment. Suggests that dealing head on with related global warming problems, by reducing careless use of fossil fuels and increasing our use of pollution control and energy efficiency devices, could also reduce acid rain and contain the ozone depletion. Perhaps the greenhouse effect is the catalyst needed for global awakening and action.

Item #d89nov71

"How to Use Science and Influence People," D. MacKenzie, New Sci., 69-70, Apr. 29, 1989.

Explains how Bob Watson, a scientist with NASA, has managed to coordinate research and influence political actions that resulted in the ozone treaty. Maintains that the ozone debate has shown that for scientists to be effective they must reach a consensus from the start from as many countries as possible and that the scientists as a community must stick to science and avoid expressing personal policy opinions.

Item #d89nov72

"Climatic Change and Possible Amelioration Strategies," E. Keppler, Sterne Und Weltraum, 28, 21-25, Jan. 1989. In German.

Summarizes climatic changes occurring worldwide such as the greenhouse effect, hydrocarbon gases and the ozone hole. Examines measures that can be taken to counteract them. Considers ways in which human values need to be changed to prevent these consequences.

Item #d89nov73

"Modeling the Geochemical Carbon Cycle," R.A. Berner, A.C. Lasaga, Sci. Amer., 260, 74-81, Mar. 1989.

Results of model calculations of the geochemical carbon cycle indicate that slow natural fluctuations in atmospheric carbon dioxide over millions of years may rival or even exceed the much faster changes predicted to arise from human activities or the biological carbon cycle. The effects give a very direct indication of what may be expected if fossil-fuel burning continues at its current rate.