Earth and Sky【27】

Mention global warming to a room full of politicians, and you might just start an argument. But one thing most everyone can agree on is the need for more research. Learn more about the next phase of climate study —— today on Earth and Sky.

　　DB: This is Earth and Sky. When we burn fossil fuels, we release carbon dioxide —— or CO2 —— into the atmosphere —— and contribute to global warming.

　　Steven Wofsy: I think what we're really missing is a coherent program of research to try to understand the factors that influence atmospheric CO2 in the U.S. I was part of a group that wrote a plan to do this. The plan was very well received. It looked like it was on track to get quite significant funding from the federal government.

　　We finished our work on this plan on the 7th of September, 2001. And then something happened on the 11th of September that put the brakes on it.DB: Wofsy worries that climate research will suffer while the U.S. fights terrorism. But he's glad the issue hasn't been partisan.Steven Wofsy: It would have been well received by a Gore administration if there was one, and it was well received by the Bush administration. People, in general, recognize that as long as there's a demand to control CO2 emissions, knowledge of the factors that regulate atmospheric CO2 is really essential to have. And it doesn't matter whether you're in favor of imposing controls on emissions, or you're not in favor —— you know that it's going to be an issue. And knowledge is, therefore, something of value to you. DB: More tomorrow. Special thanks to the National Science Foundation —— where discoveries begin. I'm Deborah Byrd for Earth and Sky.