February 28, 2007
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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 5, NUMBER 8, AUGUST 1992
"Industry, Consumers Prepare for Compliance with Pending CFC Ban,"
P.S. Zurer, Chem. Eng. News, 7-13, June 22, 1992.
A detailed, timely update on deadlines, development of substitutes, and how
CFC users and producers are responding.
From Geotimes, June 1992 (Amer. Geological Soc.):
"Geology and Global Change," G.R. Brakenridge, p. 5. Comment on
the need to understand the geologic past if we are to predict the Earth's
"EOS," J. Dozier, B. Moore III, 12-15. Outlines science and policy
priorities for the U.S. Earth Observing System.
"Something is Wrong with Climate Theory," J.C.G. Walker, L.C.
Sloan, 16-18. Studies of past climate show that during the Eocene period, the
poles were warmer than today but the tropics were not. Explanation of this
anomaly could result in a new understanding of the climate system.
"Global Change and the New Definition of Progress," G.E. Brown,
Jr., 19-21. A California congressman comments on the roles of science and
politics in American society.
From The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, June 1992:
"From the Nuclear Frying Pan into the Global Fire," S. Weart,
18-27. When radiation and the greenhouse effect were first discovered in 1896,
technology was seen as the route to an Earthly paradise. Radiation's career
soured that view, and global warming raises still more questions.
"Global Warming: The Worst Case," J. Leggett, 28-33. Foot-dragging
governments are asking us to take an appalling gamble. Instead, they should
approach climate change with the same "worst case" approach used to
evaluate military threats.
"Warming Theories Need Warning Label," S.F. Singer, 34-39. The
debate over global warming has featured more hype than solid fact. It does not
make sense to waste $100 billion a year on what is still a phantom threat when
there are so many real and pressing problems.
"Decline and Fall of the Amphibians," R. Griffiths, T. Beebee,
New Scientist, 25-29, June 27, 1992.
Why nature's great survivors are disappearing remains a mystery. Global
environmental change of various types is suspected, but application of the term
"global" is premature since it implies a common cause.
"Measuring the Monsoon," V. Ramaswamy, R. Nair, ibid.,
31-35, June 20, 1992.
Scientists from the National Institute of Oceanography (Goa, India) and the
Institute of Biogeochemistry and Marine Chemistry (University of Hamburg) are
looking at sediments in the Arabian Sea to understand the climatic history of
the monsoon. A major concern is how global warming might alter this phenomenon
and the lives of those who depend on it.
Special issue: "L'Effet de Serre" ("The Greenhouse
Effect"), Recherche, May 1992. In French. Contains over 20 articles
spanning 150 pages on the science involved as well as the politics and policy
Special section: "Global Change," Science, May 22, 1992.
The following three of the five articles included were summarized in News Notes,
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE DIGEST, July 1992:
"Greenhouse Science Survives Skeptics," R.A. Kerr, 1138-1140.
"A Technical Fix for the Greenhouse," F.S. Myers, p. 1144.
"There's a New Offering on Campus: Global Change 101," A. Gibbons,
"Can Trees Really Help Fight Global Warming?" N.
Sampson, T. Hamilton, Amer. Forests, 13-16, May-June 1992. (Amer.
Forestry Assoc., POB 2000, Washington DC 20013)
New studies show that forestry's potential to offset U.S. carbon emissions
is indeed substantial, and the by-product benefits are large.
"The Resistible Rise of Skin Cancer," D. Concar, New
Scientist, 23-28, May 16, 1992.
While the frequency of skin cancer cases is expected to continue increasing
due to the increasing popularity of tanning (aside from ozone depletion), the
information in this article is useful background on the dangers of ultraviolet
"Web of Interactions Makes It Difficult to Untangle Global Warming
Data," B. Hileman, Chem. Eng. News, 7-19, Apr. 27, 1992. An
extensive review, written at a general level, of recent developments in
scientific understanding and accompanying policy trends. Despite the
complexities, experts have made progress in approaching a comprehensive
understanding of the chaotic climate system.
"Global Warming on Trial," W.S. Broecker, Natural History,
6-14, Apr. 1992.
Carefully reviews evidence that the Earth is warming, finding the evidence
inconclusive so far, and discusses where the burden of proof lies with respect
to human impacts. The skirmish over global warming will seem relatively minor if
the underlying problem of population control is not addressed.
Series of five editorials in Oil and Gas Journal:
"Politics of Sacrifice Obscuring Science" (Apr. 20, 1992, p. 23); "Science
Casts Doubt on Alarmist Theory" (Apr. 27, p. 13); "Natural Processes
Disrupt Predictions" (May 4, p. 25); "Issue Offers Great Potential for
Error" (May 11, p. 15); "Issue Should Focus on Science, Costs"
(May 18, p. 17).
"Japan's Plan: Deep-Sea Carbon Dioxide Disposal," E. Terry,
Tomorrow, Vol. 2, No. 2, 36-39, 1992.
As part of its "New Earth 21" project, Japan is investigating
injection of CO2 from power plants into the deep sea, where it would form a
blob-like mass on the ocean floor. The scheme is raising controversy over
potential environmental effects.
"Le Bilan Radiatif de la Terre" ("The Radiation Balance of
the Earth"), R. Kandel, Y. Fouquart, Recherche, 316-324, Mar. 1992.
Reviews current understanding of the topic, which is crucial to
understanding greenhouse warming, focusing on the important role of clouds.
"Benefits of Global Warming," S.F. Singer, Society,
33-40, Mar.-Apr. 1992. (Editor, Society, Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick NJ
Despite the title, this article dwells mainly on the uncertainty of the
science of global warming, the need to take certain steps that make sense even
if the enhanced greenhouse effect does not exist (such as energy conservation
through pricing), and the false and expensive solutions offered by those who
wish to further their own agendas.
"Global Chilling: Pouring Cold Water on the Greenhouse Debate,"
Sierra, 43-45, Nov.-Dec. 1991.
The Information Council on the Environment, sponsored by coal companies and
electric utilities, is waging an aggressive public relations campaign with the
apparent aim of preventing any action at all on global warming.
Guide to Publishers
Index of Abbreviations