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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 8, NUMBER 7, JULY 1995

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS...
OF GENERAL INTEREST: TEMPERATURE TRENDS

Item #d95jul11

"Climatic Warming in North America: Analysis of Borehole Temperatures," D. Deming, Science, 268(5217), 1576-1577, June 16, 1995.

Gives a synopsis of evidence of climate change based on examination of the profile of temperature versus depth in holes bored in the Earth. The sum of evidence from this technique, combined with the conventional instrumental record of surface air temperatures, is consistent with a major climatic warming over the North American continent since the middle of the 19th century. However, the magnitude of the warming is within the range of natural variability, and a cause and effect relationship to anthropogenic activities cannot be demonstrated unambiguously at this time.

Item #d95jul12

"Tree Ring Width and Density Evidence of Climatic and Potential Forest Change in Alaska," G.C. Jacoby (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observ., Rte. 9W, Palisades NY 10964), R.D. D'Arrigo, Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 9(2), 227-234, June 1995.

Analysis of core samples from trees shows that the climatic warming observed over much of Alaska during the past century is not producing ever-increasing tree growth. Instead, warmer temperatures may be slowing tree growth by promoting moisture loss and attacks by insects and diseases. (See summary and discussion in Science, p. 1595, Mar. 17, 1995.)