Aug 07 2009

Climate Changes

Posted by: Jennifer Zerwer

Several stories on the science and politics of global warming caught our attention this week:

The aggressive efforts employed by the Chinese government to reduce emissions during the Beijing Olympics did significantly improve air quality, according to a Cornell study. In preparation for the Olympics, measures were implemented to regulate traffic density, encourage public transportation, halt construction, and replace coal with natural gas to produce electricity. Based on Beijing air quality data collected in 2007 and 2008, carbon dioxide decreased 47 percent, car emissions of black carbon were down 33 percent and ultrafine carbon-based particles decreased 78 percent. According to Max Zhang, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, who led the research, "we hope our study can help or advise local regulators and policymakers to adopt long-term sustainable emission controls to improve air quality." 

While "Cash for Clunkers" may be stimulating the economy, it is not impressing climate experts. The Associated Press estimates that the initial 250,000 vehicles that will be permanently retired will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 700,000 tons a year. When you consider that the U.S. emitted about 6.4 billion tons last year, it's just a drop in the bucket.

If you've been considering a trip to Alaska or Washington to check out the glaciers, there's no time like the present. Seriously. As further evidence of our warming climate, a study released this week by the U.S. Geological Survey indicates that three major glaciers in these states have thinned and shrunk dramatically. Although all three glaciers - Gulkana and Wolverine in Alaska and South Cascade in Washington - have distinct climates, they all display a similar pattern of significant mass loss.

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