Guarding against climate change: the greenhouse effect
Many trace gases in the atmosphere can absorb and retain solar energy and may eventually cause inadvertent climate change with catastrophic consequences. If the release of these gases to the atmosphere from man's activities causes significant global warming, results might be flooding due to melting polar ice, loss of productive farmland to desert, and ultimately, famine. The most publicized of these solar energy traps is carbon dioxide, but the combined effect of increases in nitrous oxide, methane, and other gases could equal that of carbon dioxide. Global pollutants are vexing because they require action on a global scale, and the citizens of different countries view their priorities differently. As global threats like carbon dioxide buildup (exacerbated by coal burning) become more clearly defined, we may be forced to reevaluate the costs and benefits of nuclear power.
- OSTI ID:
- 5715410
- Journal Information:
- Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 20:6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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GREENHOUSE EFFECT
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CLIMATES
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
METHANE
NITROUS OXIDE
ALKANES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
HYDROCARBONS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)