Carbon dioxide controversy

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Environment; (United States)

OSTI ID:6257243

The carbon dioxide controversy was discussed at a conference of climatologists at York University, Ontario, according to reports in the Montreal Gazette (6/17/78) and the Ottawa Citizen (6/9/78). According to M. Mitchell (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the world cannot wait for proof that air pollution is warming the earth's atmosphere, because by then it will be too late to avoid the drastic consequences of climatic change. The world is already warmer than it has been for 120,000 yr and the greenhouse effect created by pouring the equivalent of 5 trillion tons of carbon into the air every year through the burning of fossil fuels could raise the temperatures permanently as much as 2.5/sup 0/C. Such a temperature change could cause melting of the polar ice cap, flooding, and vast changes in rainfall and agricultural patterns. According to R. Bryson (Univ. Wisconsin) carbon dioxide is not a problem for the short term, and possibly for the longer term. According to Bryson, particles in the atmosphere screen us from the sun and produce a cooling effect. The cooling influence of the particles produced by the burning of fossil fuels would counterbalance the warming effect of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

• OSTI ID: 6257243
• Journal Information: Environment; (United States), Journal Name: Environment; (United States) Vol. 20:8; ISSN ENVTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
POLLUTION
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS