CARBON DIOXIDE EFFECTS Dr. TRIVELPIECE. The sun as it radiates the earth causes energy to be deposited on the earth. That energy is converted to other wavelengths which try to escape. By virtue of the fact that there is carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, some of that energy is trapped between the earth and the atmosphere and creates what is referred to as a greenhouse effect, much as light going through the glass in a greenhouse traps energy inside. As a result of the fact that we are burning hydrocarbon fuels and taking carbon back out of the ground that had been put there for millions of years, we are increasing the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The result is that there is an increase in the environment that seems to track the increase in the carbon dioxide released in the atmosphere. [Viewgraph.] ON CLIMATE IMPROVE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIRECT CO, EFFECTS ON DEVELOP/VERIFY METHODS FOR "FIRST DETECTION" OF CLIMATE CHANGE DUE TO CO2 Dr. TRIVELPIECE. The next viewgraph illustrates some of the various things that are associated with that to give you an idea of the broad character of this problem. We certainly need to understand what happens as a result of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as a function of time. Will it affect our climate; will it not affect our climate? While not directly in our purview the program began about 1962 when it was discovered that there were about 315 parts per million of CO2 in the atmosphere. That subsequently has grown to about 338 parts per million. The question is over what period of time will that produce what kinds of effect. This requires a careful measurement of the growth of the carbon dioxide and an understanding of where it goes and how it gets there and how it returns to the ecological systems in which we live. [Viewgraph.] |