The article “Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide limits soil storage” states that a recent study was conducted and found that soil carbon is not as stable as once thought, meaning that many global climate change models are in fact not correct (Department of Energy 2015). This article shows that climate models can be improved to properly represent the global carbon cycle. The carbon is not being stored at the rate thought and this study shows that soil carbon has a lower equilibrium for storing carbon.
With the results of this study, it brings into question other assumptions made in climate models and how many incorrect models were used in making policies to curb climate change. The increase in atmospheric carbon does not mean a balanced increased in uptake of carbon by the soil as the plants are decomposing at a faster rate and increasing the soil carbon losses by microorganisms. The decomposing carbon was previously thought to be untouched by the microbes and was thought to be stored. However, this study goes to show that the increased atmospheric carbon dioxide is triggering the decay by these microbes.
The impact of this finding has global implications as the study showed that the plant decomposition is wide spread. Almost all climate models will need to be altered and see how this new discovery affects the outcomes of the models. With one little change in one variable, it could show warming of a greater degree or perhaps a lesser degree. Many different goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals, are based off of specific climate modeling and this study shows that maybe those studies were based off improper assumptions.
References
soil storage." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 15 April 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150415090022.htm>.
Volcanic eruptions temporarily alter atmospheric temperatures
The article “Volcanic eruptions slow down climate change – temporarily” shows that volcanic eruptions are having twice as much effect of reflecting incoming solar radiation by the volcanic aerosols than previously thought (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology 2015). This discovery helps to explain some of the fluctuations in the overall atmospheric temperature changes throughout the recent past. In the past large volcanic eruptions showed a significant cooling of the globe, however, it was underestimated due to the fact that the stratosphere was not included in the estimations. This new study shows that the impact the volcanic aerosols have on the stratosphere can have the greatest impact and global cooling during late summer. When the volcanic particles reach the stratosphere they settle as sulfur particles, blocking incoming solar radiation from reaching the surface and increasing the temperature.
While volcanic eruptions can be detrimental to local communities and environments as they shoot ash and lava out into the atmosphere, they do have a slight advantage in the age of global warming. Volcanic eruptions can be difficult to predict on the magnitude of the eruption and they have a global impact when they do. Active volcanoes are found all over the globe and should many erupt at similar times, the global cooling effect could have a large temporary effect and lessen the global warming. Global climate modeling need to take these potential eruptions into effect, however, predicting them and putting the variable into the model will be difficult.
Reference
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. "Volcanic eruptions slow down climate change –
temporarily." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 9 July 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150709093001.htm>.
Exposure to air pollution increasing mortality decades later
A study outlined in the article “Exposure to air pollution 30 years ago associated with increased risk of death” shows that exposure to air pollution can have long-lasting affects on a person up until their death and can even increase mortality. The extensive study looked at a large number to people over a long time period to determine how air pollution has a direct result on human health. People who are exposed to air pollution can continue to have effects over thirty years after the initial exposure. For people living in areas of persistent air pollution, this could mean that their health is at the greatest risk and air pollution effects could be compounded as they are continuously exposed and at risk. Even just the slightest increase in air pollution can have a large impact on mortality three decades later, however, the most recent exposure has the largest impact.
This study goes to show the inherent need to protect human health by curbing air pollution and implementing policies to improve air quality. Any companies that cause air pollution should be made to clean their emissions using high quality filters so that they are not harming human health at such a great extent. While mortality is not directly linked to the air pollution exposure, the correlation between increased mortality and air pollution exposure is a solid argument as to why governments need to intervene to keep the air clean. Should people live in areas that are close to areas of high air pollution, the government should work on getting those people out of the area if the air pollution cannot be brought to low levels safe enough for human living. Air pollution does not stay within national borders and is a global issue that needs to be dealt with on a global level.References
Imperial College London. "Exposure to air pollution 30 years ago associated with
increased risk of death: Exposure to air pollution more than 30 years ago may still
affect an individual's mortality risk today." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 February 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160208213652.htm>.
