Carbon dioxide: a problem of producing usable data

Journal Article · Mon Oct 17 00:00:00 EDT 1977 · Chem. Eng. News; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/cen-v055n042.p026· OSTI ID:5238889

Lepkowski, W

On Oct. 4, 1977, the 20th anniversary of man's first orbital view of spaceship Earth, a press release issued by the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration went into the mails carrying the headline, ''NOAA's Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Monitors Show Global Increase, Raise Questions.'' NOAA reported that carbon dioxide readings taken at a measuring station at Mauna Loa, Hawaii, showed a 5% rise--from 314 ppM to 330 ppM--between 1958, when measurements began, and 1976. Readings at four other NOAA sites around the world show the same trends. NOAA's news is part of a drama now beginning to unfold as perhaps the fundamental science policy issue for the next decade. For if what many scientists fear is correct--that atmospheric carbon dioxide generated by the burning of fossil fuels is growing and accelerating--then the world could be in for drastic climatic shifts and thus changes not only in the balance of military and economic power but in billions of individual lives.

• OSTI ID: 5238889
• Journal Information: Chem. Eng. News; (United States), Vol. 55:42
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
CARBON DIOXIDE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
AIR POLLUTION
COAL
COMBUSTION
FORECASTING
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POWER PLANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety