belgareth
01-12-2005, 09:51 PM
Fossil Fuel Curbs May Speed Global Warming: Scientists
Wed Jan 12, 7:31 PM ET Science - Reuters
By Matt Falloon
LONDON (Reuters) -
Cutting down on fossil fuel pollution could accelerate global warming and help turn parts of Europe into desert by
2100, according to research to be aired on British television on Thursday. "Global Dimming," a BBC Horizon
documentary, will describe research suggesting fossil fuel by-products like sulfur dioxide particles reflect the
sun's rays, "dimming" temperatures and almost canceling out the greenhouse effect.
The researchers say cutting down on the burning of coal and oil, one
of the main goals of international environmental agreements, will drastically heat rather than cool climate.
"When the cooling affect goes away -- and it must do because
particles like sulfur dioxide are damaging to humans -- global warming will be much stronger," climate change
scientist Dr Peter Cox told Reuters on Wednesday.
Temperatures could
increase in the worst case by up to 10 degrees by the end of the century, the researchers said -- much more than
current estimates.
Scientists differ as to whether global warming is
caused by man-made emissions of carbon dioxide and other "greenhouse" gases, by natural climate cycles or if it
exists at all.
Take away fossil fuel by-products like sulfur dioxide
without tackling greenhouse gas emissions, and the extra heat will speed warming, irreversibly melting ice sheets
and rendering rain forests unsustainable within decades, Dr Cox said.
"The climate will warm more in the future but the ability of the land to store carbon dioxide will be
compromised," he said, adding that warmer soil was less able to hold the greenhouse gas
Wed Jan 12, 7:31 PM ET Science - Reuters
By Matt Falloon
LONDON (Reuters) -
Cutting down on fossil fuel pollution could accelerate global warming and help turn parts of Europe into desert by
2100, according to research to be aired on British television on Thursday. "Global Dimming," a BBC Horizon
documentary, will describe research suggesting fossil fuel by-products like sulfur dioxide particles reflect the
sun's rays, "dimming" temperatures and almost canceling out the greenhouse effect.
The researchers say cutting down on the burning of coal and oil, one
of the main goals of international environmental agreements, will drastically heat rather than cool climate.
"When the cooling affect goes away -- and it must do because
particles like sulfur dioxide are damaging to humans -- global warming will be much stronger," climate change
scientist Dr Peter Cox told Reuters on Wednesday.
Temperatures could
increase in the worst case by up to 10 degrees by the end of the century, the researchers said -- much more than
current estimates.
Scientists differ as to whether global warming is
caused by man-made emissions of carbon dioxide and other "greenhouse" gases, by natural climate cycles or if it
exists at all.
Take away fossil fuel by-products like sulfur dioxide
without tackling greenhouse gas emissions, and the extra heat will speed warming, irreversibly melting ice sheets
and rendering rain forests unsustainable within decades, Dr Cox said.
"The climate will warm more in the future but the ability of the land to store carbon dioxide will be
compromised," he said, adding that warmer soil was less able to hold the greenhouse gas