Sayhuh's WunderBlog

Posted by: sayhuh, 5:05 AM GMT on September 02, 2006

For what its worth, I watched the crazy piece on ABC the other night regarding the 7 most deadliest potentials to earth aniliation. This was a stupid program further created to confuse and scare the public and to further support the number 1 "crisis" of the Global Warming Debate. I think I have had enough of this. I am tired of hearing about how this or that is going to happen with both sides of the debate twisting claims or research as needed to sustain a claim, usually stemming from financial or political motives. It did get me thinking though about how the whole crux of the most logical argument stems from the increase of C02 levels. In this, I had a thought, and also further researched the activities, framework, and specfics of the Kyoto Treaty. In this I have found that even within the Kyoto, there is a reference to satisfying the stipulations by promoting forestation/vegetation growth. That further got me thinking that..what are other factors that might be contributing to C02 increases? Deforestation. Check out the following from this.

Deforestation and the Global Carbon Cycle
Deforestation increases the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other trace gases in the atmosphere. The plants and soil of tropical forests hold 460-575 billion metric tons of carbon worldwide with each acre of tropical forest storing about 180 metric tons of carbon. When a forest is cut and burned to establish cropland and pastures, the carbon that was stored in the tree trunks (wood is about 50% carbon) joins with oxygen and is released into the atmosphere as CO2.

The loss of forests has a profound effect on the global carbon cycle. From 1850 to 1990, deforestation worldwide (including the United States) released 122 billion metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere, with the current rate being approximately 1.6 billion metric tons per year. In comparison, fossil fuel burning (coal, oil, and gas) releases about 6 billion metric tons per year, so it is clear that deforestation makes a significant contribution to the increasing CO2 in the atmosphere. Releasing CO2 into the atmosphere enhances the greenhouse effect, and could contribute to an increase in global temperatures (see Global Warming Fact Sheet, NF-222).

Deforestation and the Hydrologic Cycle
Tropical deforestation also affects the local climate of an area by reducing the evaporative cooling that takes place from both soil and plant life. As trees and plants are cleared away, the moist canopy of the tropical rain forest quickly diminishes. Recent research suggests that about half of the precipitation that falls in a tropical rain forest is a result of its moist, green canopy. Evaporation and evapotranspiration processes from the trees and plants return large quantities of water to the local atmosphere, promoting the formation of clouds and precipitation. Less evaporation means that more of the Sun's energy is able to warm the surface and, consequently, the air above, leading to a rise in temperatures.

Solution to problem...plant some trees, and be cognizant of coal burning. I am not sure that some of the insane things I see out there to combat global warming one way or another really solve such a complex, but perhaps overcomplicated situation.

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