CO2 Increase: Questions Beyond Climate Change

• Main Authors: Beckmann, G., Klopries, B.
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: CP-90-001 1990
• Subjects: Antarctic; Greenland; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/eprint/3459/; https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/eprint/3459/1/CP-90-001.pdf

The increase of the tropospheric C02 (carbon dioxide) concentration is considered by scientists all over the world to be an alarming signal, as becomes evident from the huge amount of literature on the subject. The so-called greenhouse-gas effect, or, more precisely, its anthropogenic component, is mainly caused by the C02 increase. However, other trace gases have also contributed their share. Far-reaching climatic changes, a temperature increase in the tropospheric air, especially in the polar region, as well as a gradual melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice with a simultaneous rise of the seawater level, are being predicted as a consequence of the greenhouse effect. In addition to these gloomy prospects a new hypothesis has developed: The biological consequences of the evolution of a changed composition of the air could be hazardous to man and nature.