South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-09-12

phere. largely because OF the water vapor
which it contains, traps solar heat for the
whole planet II there were no air sur
rounding the earth its surface at night
would be unendurably sold. and even by
day an icy temperature would prevail in
al shadows. The heat even in full sun
shine, would be radiated away so rapidly
that Il could not penetrate to any depth
in the soil. On the other hand, if the heat
capturing power of the atmosphere could
be doubled or tripled the terrors of the
severest Winter would be warded off.
Experiments show that the power of the
atmosphere TO trap heat is largely due to
the water vapor that it contains It is
also due to some extent. TO the carbon
dioxide gas that is one Of it's minor con-
sttuents. Carbon dioxide is a remarkable
heat retainer. but there is only a very
small quantity of it in the air compared
with the vast bulk OF the atmosphere. II
only amounts to about 3-l00ths Of ! per
cent But there is this significant fact
about II, viz. that its amount is variable,
10 a slight degree at the present time.
while there is evidence from past geo
logical history that once il was vastly
more abundant than IL is now.
Now. how much carbon dioxide must
the air gain in order that perceptible
effect on the temperature may be pro-
duced? Arrhenius answers this question
for us. He says that IL all the carbon
dioXide now in the afr were removed the
average temperature would fall nearly 80
degrees Fahrenheit On the other hand.
III the present amount we're doubled the
temperature would rise more than de
grees. and If il we're quadrupled the rise
would amount TO nearly 141a degrees,
which would be far more than enough 10
Danish all the glacial suffering that We
had 10 endure last Winter. Even the
smaller amount Of insrease q degrees)
would probably SUFFICE for that
But. granted all this. the question still
remains Is Il conceivable that man
could successfully interfere with so vast
a concern Of nature as the composition or
the air 81 the whole world? The answer
is: Yes: 10 is more than conceivable: Il is
nearly probable. In fact. We have reason
IN believe that man hos measurably altered
the constitution of the air by varying the
relative amounts Of some OF its consutu-
ents ind IrbGt he has done IS erdctV
the thing in question. riz increasing me
amount OF carbon di0ride.
II has been estimated that the burning
OF coal i'm recent years has annually tuT-
nished 10 the atmosphere about oOOl0b
per cent OF the amount of carbon dloXide
trar II normally contains Then, IN 500
wears the percentage OF carbon dioXide will
be doubled 5v the agency Of man alone.
provided that il all remains in the air.
Vegetation absorbs a great deal, but gives
most of il back again in roundabout ways.
The sea aOsorbs a great deal but only
enough 10 maintain an equilibrium with
the air so that the latter must retain
certain proportion of its gain.
II human agency now adds carbon dloX-
ide 10 the Pr al such a rate that the GUAM
tity viii he doubled in 600 years, then, II
the annual supply were increased skiold,
the douoline would be effected in 100 years,
and if siXtyfold, in ten years. So here
we have a theoretical means Of efecting
The needed change OF climate, il shows
how IL could be done. and how nature has
evidently done IL in the past, but Il is
method that works too slowly. We cannot.
without a fundamental discovery % aid US.
supply carbon diOxl6e fast enough 10 effec-
lively aid the present generation, nor the
next nor the next
To DE sure. If We al worked together
to pour into he air 600 times as rCuch
of this gas as We now DO We should az
COrding 10 the calculations double the al
mospheric percentage and bring about a
new climatic situation in a single year
But. even If the coal mines could withstand
The drain, 1t would not be practicable 90