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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 3, NUMBER 3, MARCH 1990

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS...
GENERAL AND POLICY

Item #d90mar1

"Monitoring Global Climate Change: The Case of Greenhouse Warming," F.B. Wood (Off. Technol. Assessment, U.S. Congress, Washington DC 20510), Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 71(1), 42-52, Jan. 1990.

Data on several key variables indicate that the pattern of climate change during the 1980s has significant similarities and differences when compared with the pattern projected by the major climate models for an equilibrium response to a doubling of atmospheric CO₂. The present state of global climate appears to be at a critical juncture, with some indicators at or close to historic limits. More integrated and complete monitoring should help increase the confidence with which scientists discern overall trends and also the confidence of policymakers who base their decisions on these trends.

Item #d90mar2

SPECIAL ISSUE: "The Greenhouse Effect: Impacts of Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) Radiation, Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), and Ozone (O3) on Vegetation," S.V. Krupa (Dept. Plant Pathol., Univ. Minn., 495 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul MN 55108), R.N. Kickert, (J.P. Dempster, W.J. Manning, Eds.), Environ. Pollut., 61(4), 135 pp., Dec. 1989. Monograph copies available for $15 (payable to Dept. Plant Pathology) from C. Post.

Human activity may be influencing global climate through, for example, production of greenhouse gases and CFCs. Changes in UV-B and in concentrations of CO₂ and O3 can affect vegetation, as a review of laboratory studies shows. However, their joint effects are poorly understood. A better understanding will require integrated, realistic experiments and close cooperation among scientists from diverse disciplines.

Item #d90mar3

"Climate Change and Environmental Pollution: Physical and Biological Interactions," M. Oppenheimer (Environ. Defense Fund, 257 Park Ave. S, New York NY 10010), Clim. Change, 15(1/2), 255-270, Oct. 1989.

Projected climatic change may occur in an environment already affected by other stresses such as UV-B enhancement, air pollution and increasing nutrient fluxes. An examination of these interactions indicates that an increase in oxidant levels throughout the lower atmosphere and troposphere will occur, contributing (along with other stresses on ecosystems) to acceleration of the S, N and C cycles. The aggravation of existing environmental problems is an important indirect consequence of climatic change.

Item #d90mar4

SPECIAL ISSUE: Future Environments for Europe: An IIASA Study of Some Implications of Alternative Development Paths, W.M. Stigliani (Environ. Prog., Intl. Inst. Appl. Sys. Analysis, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria), F.M. Brouwer et al., Sci. Tot. Environ., 80(1), 102 pp., May 1, 1989.

Analyzes 11 European environmental policy dilemmas for four alternative socioeconomic development pathways to the year 2030. The dilemmas include problems associated with climate change, sea level rise, soil acidification, marginalized land, nonpoint-source toxic materials, transport growth, urbanization and summer oxidant episodes. Concludes that, to prevent further deterioration of the European environment, European nations should do all in their power to enact environmentally friendly development both in Europe and globally.

Item #d90mar5

"Methanol as the Energy Vector of a New Climate-Neutral Energy System," W. Seifritz (Paul Scherrer Inst., CH-5232 Villigen, Switz.), Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 14(10), 717-726, 1989.

Proposes a new method of energy production where a fossil fuel can be converted using process heat of a nuclear high temperature reactor, with almost no release of CO₂ into the atmosphere. Methanol can then be converted into electricity or H. The CO₂ can be condensed and disposed of in the deep ocean.

Item #d90mar6

"Evaluation and Handling of the Long-Term Environmental Effects of Coal Combustion," W. Brocke (Saarbruecken, FRG), J. Seeliger, Brennst. Waerme Kraft, 41(9), 397-401, 1989. In German.

Evaluates critically the known effects of CO₂, climate and global warming. Efforts to control CO₂ emissions should aim at applying world-wide the most modern energy-saving technology and providing economic support for undeveloped countries to do the same.