From: rbw3q@helga9.acc.Virginia.EDU (Robert B. Whitehurst)
Newsgroups: alt.politics.elections
Subject: Re: Gore Stages Environmental Show Trials
Date: 19 Aug 92 23:01:30 GMT
Organization: University of Virginia

In article <1992Aug19.153426.21442@anasazi.com> john@anasazi.com writes:
>
>In article <1992Aug18.185554.9334@nsisrv.gsfc.nasa.gov> ejalbert@jaameri.gsfc.nasa.gov (E. Jason Albert) writes:
>]I think it is a matter of different approaches to this issue.  You would support
>]action if I could show a dramatic temp. increase.  By then, though, it will be
>]too late.  But let me even concede more -- you claim the data are uncertain.
>]OK, I don't believe so, but I'll agree.  You say that argues that we should do
>]nothing.  I think it argues that we should err on the side of caution, because
>]if global warming is right, by the time we conclusively establish that to your
>]satisfaction, it will be too late to do anything about it.
>
>As Balling points out, the available evidence indicates that global warming
>is more likely to be beneficial than harmful. The most likely warming
>comes at high latitudes at night. Furthermore, increased precipitation,
>and increased CO2 concentrations, would improve agricultural productivity.
>
[Lots o' stuff about how good CO2 is for the 3rd world, etc....]

>John Moore NJ7E, 7525 Clearwater Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85253  (602-951-9326)

	Boy, this is starting to drift away from the group's target,
but I can't resist!
	With all due respect, the notion that CO2 won't cause much
warming, and if it does, hey that's better, and if it isn't, then we
can't do much without killing the 3rd world is a load of hooey (in
techspeak :-) ).  Ecological systems **including our main agri crops**
are keyed to COMBINATIONS of temperature, temp. variation, rainfall
and its timing, and sunlight duration.  Throw any of these out of
whack, and you have great potential for major disruption, especially
with the vast impact humans already have on systems.  Extensive,
undisturbed systems can weather many changes and remain intact (though
individual species distributions may change), but chop the system into
little bits, and impose reduced species diversity, and the system
cannot remain as robust.  Example:  If the Great Plains warm, assuming
that there remains enough total rain for nominal wheat growth, summer
storms or fall rains coming just a week or two earlier could destroy
large amounts of wheat just ripening (it's often a near thing as
is).  This is all assuming the rain stays where our big agriculture
is, which is no certainty!
	I agree that CONVERTING our economies alone would be $$$ and
maybe not show REDUCTIONS in CO2 soon, BUT what about the 3rd world?
If some of the 3rd world DOES industrialize (which would seem the
answer to much of their poverty and overpopulation), they'll MULTIPLY
our output now.  We can't just tell them "you develop a low impact
economy, even though it is tough...we'll keep our old one thanks."
They'll tell us what to do with it, whack down their few last forests,
overpop, starve, and REALLY be a mess!  IF they don't get really
pissed, arm, and try to TAKE the 1st world by storm.  We ALL have to
get in there and pitch.  AND numerous real world examples show that
lots of "greening" is nearly painless.  REF:  Chemical companies
improving bottom lines w/ low-waste processes.  Putting energy saving
systems ALREADY in lap-top PCs in desktop PCs would cut energy usage
by PCs to 10% of now, and PCs are one of the FASTEST GROWING consumers
of electricity in the country, actually OVERLOADING some office
building power capacities.
	You don't have to be clairvoyant, a genius, or God to come to
some of these conclusions.  Look at the TRENDS.  If the slope of the
curve is positive, and the function is monotonic, whaddya think will
happen eventually?

*Humph* *Rattle* *Clunk*  OK, I'm down off my soapbox now.  Next?
-- 

Brad Whitehurst    |   Aerospace Research Lab
rbw3q@Virginia.EDU |   We like it hot...and fast.
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