Global
warming. According to the National Academy of Sciences, the
Earth's surface temperature has risen by approximately 1 degree Fahrenheit
during the past century, with most of the warming taking place during
the past two decades. New and stronger evidence indicates that most
of this change has occurred during the last 50 years and is attributable
to human activities.
Greenhouses gases.
These are primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide -- gases
that tend to absorb infrared radiation and trap the heat in the atmosphere.
The result, over time, is climate change. For more details on greenhouse
gases go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/emissions.html#GHG
Global Climate Change.
The United States recognizes that solving the global climate change
is a long-term national challenge that begins at a local level. Solutions
implemented during the 21st Century will likely require fundamental
changes in the way the world produces and uses energy. In the meantime,
because fossil fuels will probably remain a mainstay of global energy
production until the 22nd Century, we must develop new techniques and
technologies to capture greenhouse gases, such as gaseous CO2, that
are expelled into the atmosphere by power plants, petroleum refineries,
and various high-emitting industrial processes. Department of Energy
scientists have determined that, until advanced technologies are discovered
to reduce carbon dioxide emissions effectively and at a reasonable cost,
our nation should, for the next 50 years, take advantage of the benefits
of terrestrial carbon sequestration. Learn more about the U.S. Climate
Change Technology Program at: history.html.
For a list of Questions
& Anwers, on the subject of Carbon Sequestration.
For an overview of the future
of Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration, go to: USDA
Symposium.ppt
