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A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
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FROM VOLUME 5, NUMBER 12, DECEMBER 1992

NEWS...
RESEARCH NEWS

Item #d92dec152

Milankovitch theory questioned: The theory that the timing of ice ages is largely controlled by Earth orbital influences on solar insolation has been challenged by a paleoclimatological record obtained from minerals from Devil's Hole, a flooded fault system in Nevada. (See Prof. Pubs./Gen. Int. Science, this GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE DIGEST issue--Dec. 1992.) Another conclusion of the research is that interglacial periods are longer than previously thought, so that we are not nearing the end of the present interglacial, as generally believed. The resulting scientific controversy is discussed in Science, pp. 220-221, Oct. 9, 1992; Sci. News, pp. 228-229, Oct. 10; New Scientist, p. 15, Nov. 21; New York Times, pp. C1, C7, Dec. 1.

Item #d92dec153

Sea level rise: Dutch researchers have calculated that the rate of sea level rise from glaciers melting in a warmer climate would be roughly half previous estimates. (See Oerlemans, Prof. Pubs./Gen. Int. Sci., this GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE DIGEST issue--Dec. 1992)

Item #d92dec154

"A Star in the Greenhouse: Can the Sun Dampen the Predicted Global Warming?" R. Monastersky, Sci. News, pp. 282-283, 285, Oct. 24, 1992. A lengthy survey of recent results. Work at the Naval Research Laboratory on variations in solar output supports the theory that rising greenhouse gas concentrations caused much of the warming since the late 19th century, and throws doubt on the Marshall Institute's argument that dimming of the sun in the next century will offset any greenhouse warming.

Item #d92dec155

"When Climate Twitches, Evolution Takes Great Leaps," R.A. Kerr, Science, pp. 1622-1624, Sep. 18, 1992. Feature article. Abrupt climate excursions, superimposed on long-term trends, have been linked to rapid periods of mammalian evolution. Discusses mechanisms of abrupt changes in the climate system.