the Department of state to bring these issues to the attention of other nations,
The greenhouseeffect refers to the phenomenon whereby carbon dioxide and h e r small-molecule gases trap longwave infrared radiation (heat) in the atmosphere, thereby warming the Earth. A h several years of relatively low priority, the greenhouse effect is reemerging as a subjea of concern to Congress and regulatory agencies. So also is the sister issue of omne depletion, the breakdown of the layer of ozone that shields the Earth from massive d m of ultraviolet radiation. lkro recent forums addressed the related issues of induced climate changes and ozone depletion. In June the Senate Subcommittee on E n v i i n t a l Pollution, chaired by Sen. John Chafee (R-R.I.), held a hearing on issues of global effects resulting from the introduction of trace gases into the atmosphere. A week later, a joint United Nations Environment Programme/ Environmental Protection Agency (UNEPEPA) conference convened scientists from the United States, Canada, Europe,and the Third World to review studies on ozone depletion and c l i i t e Changes. Senator Chafee suggested six actions that couldbe pursuedby agenciesunder existingauthorities to address issues associated with climate changes. Specifically, he would ask EFA and the mice of lkchnology Assessment to launch immediate m e s of policy options, the National Academy of Sciencesto review gaps in scientific knowledge
be expected from all other trace gases
put together. Because all trace gases, including C q , are increasing at a rate ofbemeen 0.2% and 5% ger year, important increases in world r e s can be expected as soon as the beginning of the next century. Testimony at the Senate hearingillustrated effects that such a tempratwe rise could cause. Some experts predicted rises in sea levels (and associated effects) as a result of changes in global temperahrres. others noted pmltial climate changes in different parts of the world and effects that might be exDected from an increased number < ;lays per year above,
UNEP and the World Meteorological Oreanization to ex& efforts to as& c l i i t e changi and its social and economic effects, EPA to coordinate a study on the.environmental effects of climate change, and the Council on W i n m e n t a l Quality (CEQ) to address the issue as CEQ implements the National Environmental Policy Act. Vitally important in Senator Chafee’s view is pending Senate ratifiition of the Vienna Convention on the protection of the aone layer. Although the 90 OE convention does not quire. regulatory actions on the part of signatory nations, The greenhwse phenomeMln ill it provides for internationalcooperation tratestheimportanceofathemeoften in monitoring, m h , and bsounded in this column, the critical tion sharing. need for careful long-term monitoring. Linkingtbeissws As tbe actions suggested by senator Historically, the issues of ozone de- chafee or similar steps are taken, one pletion and the greenhouse effect have major question arisas: Will thele be an been treated sparately. Recent reseafch oppomlity to conduct sufficient rehas shown, however, that the ozone and search and monitoring to obtain ang r e e n h m issuesare strongly coupled; swers to i m p o m qUe.Stions that will omne itself is a greenhouse gas. In fact, guide the develqnmnt of sound legislative and regulatory programs? the. same gases that are predicted to These broad SCientifilC issues conmodify m e are also predicted to produce c l i i warming. T h m gases in- cerning the greenhouse effect and clude carbon dioxide (Cq), carbon oune depletion carry strong governmonoxide (CO), methane ( C b ) , ni- mental, as well as environmental, implications. Individual national regulatrow oxide (NZO), and Some chlorcfluorocarbons (CFCS). Cb, N20, and tory structures cannot realistically the CFCs are precursom to the hydro- resolve these pmblems; rather, e m gen, nitrogen. and chlorine oxides that tive solutions clearly depend on cumucan catalyze ozone destruction in the lative multinational actions. To date, stratosphere. In addition, C q plays a for example, the United states and key role in controlling the temperature Scandinavia have regulated certain aemsol uses of CFCs to decrease emisstructure of the stramphere, which itself is important in controllii the rates sions. but these actions rernesent only a at which the hydrogen, nitrogen, and chlorine oxides destroy mne. Recent modcling work by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) seems to indicate that temperatureincreases due to CQ in the atmosphere are approximately equiva- ington, D.C., consulronr to Enrimmental Research & Tedmdogy, Inc. =-Wimn. Sci. Teohnol., MI. 20, No. 0.
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