Town Hall

Saving the World (April 2010)

In "The Big Fix," you read about ambitious geoengineers and their plans to save the earth from global warming. However, most of these plans--giant mirrors? shiny balloons?--would interfere with the earth's ecosystems. Do you think we should avoid taking drastic measures? Or should we act now to reduce greenhouse gases before things get worse? And who do you think should decide to, say, spread a haze of sulfur dioxide across the planet? Urania wants to hear your thoughts!

 **For those of you who want more facts about global warming, we recommend these sites:**

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/index.html

http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/science/global-warming-faq.html# 

Doesnt sulfur dioxide cause acid rain? please comment on this and tell me if im right

Yes, sulfur dioxide can cause acid rain. The plan that was discussed in the article would inject sulfur dioxide too high in the atmosphere for it to cause acid rain--or that's the idea, anyway. --Ed.

submitted by Paul M., age 11, North Carver, MA
(April 8, 2010 - 5:25 pm)
Yes, sulfur dioxide does cause acid rain. You are 1000% right.
 
X 
submitted by Juan V., age 10, Houston, TX
(July 9, 2010 - 9:42 am)

i don't think we are causing this so-called "global warming"

submitted by Paul M., age 11, North Carver, MA
(April 8, 2010 - 5:28 pm)

Paul M. HA!!! we are  causing global warming! have you heard of co2? 

submitted by erin m, age 10, vancouver .bc.canada
(April 8, 2010 - 9:13 pm)

If Carbon Dioxide reflects heat back at earth, wouldn’t it also reflect it away? And the Earth has had many warm periods warmer than this. As for rising sea levels, won’t more heat mean increased evaporation?

submitted by Paul M., age 11, North Carver, MA
(April 14, 2010 - 1:28 pm)

The earth is constantly being bathed in radiation from the sun, like light, ultraviolet and infrared rays, and so on. Around 30% of this radiation is immediately reflected back into space by our atmosphere, but around 70% is let in. this radiation is changed into infrared, then reflected back into outer space. Most of the gases in our atmosphere, like oxygen, don't interact with the radiation. but the greenhouse gases absorb the infrared radiation and pass it on to neighboring molecules as heat. this prevents the radiation from going back into space, which then heats up the earth. the more greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere, the more heat is trapped near the earth. Earth has had warmer periods than this, but not by much. 2008 was the 10th warmest year in recorded history, and remember that we in previous times we haven't been pouring greenhouse gases into our atmosphere liker we are now. as for more heat means more evaporation, that isn't quite true. while heat does play a part in evaporation, it is not essential. evaporation from water that isn't heated is controlled by how much water vapor there is in the water. so if there already is water vapor in the air, the water won't evaporate as fast, or at all. at first evaporation might help, but gradually it wont make a difference on the rising sea levels. sorry about the technical description, hope it clears some things up though.

submitted by Ruth, age 13, Silver Spring, Maryland
(April 30, 2010 - 1:17 pm)

Also, the sun fluctuates in temperature, like during the Ice Age. This could at least partially contribute to the earth heating up. After all, ice is melting on mars, too.

submitted by Emma C., age 13, Olathe, KS
(May 8, 2010 - 3:59 pm)

"2008 was the 10th warmest year in recorded history" what about during the time of the dinosaurs?

submitted by Paul M., age 11, North Carver, MA
(May 11, 2010 - 9:39 am)

Before recorded history, the temperatures reached much higher than they were today (Look at the wikipedia article on "geologic temperature record".) However, this is correlated with the fact there were much higher carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere than there are today. If you look at a graph comparing global temperatures with carbon dioxide levels for the last few hundred million years, you will see that they move pretty much together. Now, I accept that correlation does not equal causation, but there is enough evidence from many different sources, such as ice cores, measuring layers of ice from over time in Antarctica and the Arctic. These show atmosphere makeup, and also temperature from how slowly or quickly the ice froze. There are also mud cores, which show layers of mud from history in large areas of dirt.

As for your earlier comment about how come sunlight isn't being reflected by the CO2, then why aren't greenhouses freezing? The sunlight shouldn't be able to come in if it reflects off so easily, should it, by your argument. CO2 is acting like the glass in a greenhouse. 

Oh, yes, and another bit of evidence for global warming- according to the magazing Odyssey, published by the same company as Muse, published an article, that looking at natural cycles of real ice ages (Not counting the little ice age during the middle ages, which was caused by volcanoes/ ocean currents/ decreased solar radiation) we should be in an ice age currently (I'm not sure on this, could Ed comment?). [Not sure myself, but that sounds interesting. If you want to quote the Odyssey article here, that would be fine. --Ed]

And, even if you don't accept that evidence, we should stop polluting because particulates will cause athsma, and a deadly atmosphere. Also, carbon dioxide is not exactly the most helpful gas for humans and animals. To much can be deadly.

Even if you don't accept global warming, you should support lowering of emissions. People's lives are depending on it. Most of us think it would be a pity if humans went extinct.

submitted by Enceladus
(May 31, 2010 - 2:35 pm)

Yeah, and last time I checked, I'm pretty sure the dinosaurs were dead.

THERE IS SUCH THING AS GLOBAL WARMING!!!!! THE HUMANS HAVE CAUSED IT!!!! THERE IS A HOLE IN THE OZONE LAYER!!! ONCE THE SUN HAS MELTED THE ICE CAPS IT WILL FLOOD THE EARTH!!! IF WE DO NOT CHANGE OUR WAYS NOW, THIS WILL BE THE END!!!

Sorry for being so dramatic.

submitted by A person who cares, Planet earth
(June 14, 2010 - 6:50 pm)

Sometimes it takes drama to get a point across.

submitted by Erin K., age 13, Apex, NC
(November 20, 2010 - 11:30 am)

Sorry, but the dinos actually died because of a meteor and the resulting cloud.

submitted by Juan V., age 10, Houston, TX
(July 9, 2010 - 10:00 am)

Sorry, but I think CO2 doesn't reflect heat away. And the heat won't hit evaporation levels as far as I know. But the Earth HAS had warmer periods. Sorry, critics.

submitted by Juan V., age 10, Houston, TX
(July 9, 2010 - 9:50 am)

Can you please make your comment a little nicer? 

X 

submitted by Juan V., age 10, Houston, TX
(July 9, 2010 - 9:58 am)

HOW CAN YOU SAY WE AREN'T CAUSING GLOBAL WARMING?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

submitted by Erin K., age 13, Apex, NC
(November 20, 2010 - 11:28 am)

To tell you the truth, we aren't causing it. But we ARE accelerating it.

 

X

P.S. Will everyone please call me X? I like it that way. 

submitted by Juan V., age 10, Houston, TX
(July 9, 2010 - 9:57 am)

OOOOOHHHHHHH! I read about those carbon dioxide eating trees (Fake, of course) that help keep the air good!!! Hey, anyone feel like a piece of rhubarb pie? SPLAT!!!!!

P.S. Pi's!!! 3.141592654.....

submitted by kokopelli, age 1234567890, Kokonino, the Universe
(April 15, 2010 - 5:46 pm)

Chlorofluorocarbons. Otherwise known as CFCs. They're in aerosol cans, and maybe even your refrigirator. They are bad, BAD I say for the ozone layer. And that causes global warming, which causes glaciers to melt, which can cause floods in places, which means, well, people, and buildings, get swept away. Sorry to get into the whole cause and effect thing, that could go on forever. But we don't need global warming. I only buy aersol cans if they say, "NO CFCS" on the back. You should do that too, and just saying, buy ENERGY STAR appliances, cuz computers can be bad for the earth.

Actually, the hole in the ozone layer, caused by CFCs, is a separate problem from global warming. The ozone hole means we (and the rest of the planet) are less protected from UV radiation. Global warming comes mainly from a different gas--carbon dioxide--that we release into the atmosphere. --Ed.

submitted by Lili Z., age 10, Colorado Springs, CO
(April 15, 2010 - 7:47 pm)

And from where did you get this information?

submitted by Katie C.
(April 16, 2010 - 8:06 pm)

Well, I know that I read something similar in Odyssey, a magazine published by the same company as Muse.

By the way, Ed, I made a long and detailed post. Where did it go? 

[Sorry! Fan Comment Pit?? I'll dig it out right now. --Ed.]

submitted by Enceladus
(June 4, 2010 - 7:11 pm)

I am a global warming skeptic and believe the April article on geoengineering was totally one-sided about "global warming." It is a highly controversial topic, and the article only presented the "we are causing global warming, global warming exists, and it is something we must worry about" side. I hope in the future Muse will include both sides of a controversial topic. [Please don't post links to outside sites. Thanks! --Ed.]

submitted by Katie C., age 13, Northeren California
(April 16, 2010 - 8:05 pm)

Of course global warming is something we should worry about!!! And of course we are causing it. Ihave evidence. Really...

submitted by Jeff M., age 10, Baltimore, MD
(May 1, 2010 - 8:49 am)

show me this "evidence"

submitted by Paul M., age 11, North Carver, MA
(May 11, 2010 - 9:44 am)

me too

submitted by Paul M., age 11, North Carver, MA
(May 11, 2010 - 9:42 am)

the spraying salt in2 clouds idea is the best!!! 

submitted by clair m, age 3 1/2 months from being 12, mcKinleyville, ca
(April 17, 2010 - 9:24 pm)

paul m is WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

submitted by clair m, age 3 1/2 months from being 12, mcKinleyville, ca
(April 17, 2010 - 9:26 pm)

two words: prove it

submitted by Paul M., age 11, North Carver, MA
(May 11, 2010 - 9:50 am)

Well, since we can't post outside links, there's no use in arguing over the veracity of global warming. So let's get back to the actual discussion topic. I wonder what effect the erruption of Mt. Eyjafjallajökull will have on the Earth's climate for the next few years. Will it buy us some time?

submitted by Gabriel H
(April 19, 2010 - 12:34 am)

So you know the name of that volcano? Lemme see, gotta write that down somewhere...

submitted by Lili Z., age 10, Colorado Springs, CO
(May 8, 2010 - 8:59 pm)

I did a rant on global warming and let me tell you that our best bet is stopping with the carbon emmissions! There's got to be a better way to do things than spewing CO2 into the air! And if our lazy population can't even do that then can we at least plant some trees? Those things suck in carbon and keep it there, second best thing we can do is plants. Even a box of herbs in the windowsill (which would also make for some tasty meals).

submitted by Silver, age 13, ON
(April 25, 2010 - 6:30 pm)

I know that this might not count as proof to people who do not believe in global warming, but here's an explanation of how global warming works.

The Earth's atmosphere has a certain amount of greenhouse gases in it, like carbon dioxide. The sun, when it shines on the earth, deposits heat and light. The greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap some of the heat. Most of it escapes back into space. The heat that stays is what makes Earth livable. Venus is closer to the sun, and has more greenhouse gases, which is why it is uninhabitable. Mars has less atmosphere, which is why it is to cold to be habitable.

Cars, when they burn gas, let carbon dioxide out of the tailpipe. This floats up, smells bad, and contributes to the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. One car doesn't do much, but a whole bunch running for hours every day builds up carbon dioxide. More greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere traps more heat on earth, rasing the average global temperature.

As for proof, the same thing happens on a smaller scale in your car on a hot day.

submitted by Maggie, age 12, Norfolk, Va
(July 7, 2010 - 12:55 pm)

listen up people! sorry to hurt or do something to your feelings and believings, but, you can't save the world its gonna blow up no matter what you do! so i say just let it lone! ok?! i'm tired of this kinda stuff!

Why is it going to blow up? --Ed. 

submitted by Dorothy H., age 13, noncityness, GA
(August 20, 2010 - 4:42 pm)

Actually, thats a pretty good question - is Koko attaching explosives to his satalite controlled pies or something? I don't think global warming makes planets blow up.....

submitted by Maggie, age 12, Kokonino Country
(September 25, 2010 - 1:49 pm)

since kokopelii is with the hpbs he just might blow up the planit  

submitted by liam h, age 10, cary nc
(February 13, 2011 - 7:52 pm)

To Silver: Very random, but where did you get your name?? When I saw it I was reminded of someone awesome. Who can stick to the ceiling.

submitted by Mango
(February 21, 2011 - 3:43 pm)