On global climate change, carbon dioxide, and fossil fuel combustion

Abstract

Global climate change (GCC), greenhouse (GH) gases and the uncertainties swirling about them are of considerable concern to the Congress and to the public. Although the uncertainties leave GCC and GH gas implications open, the only GH gas of significance that results from fossil fuel combustion, namely CO2, has drawn much attention. This review discusses the concerns in two parts. The first part covers in some detail the scientific and technical aspects of GCC and the relationships of CO2 and fossil fuels to it. It includes sections on the GH effect; on the anthropogenic atmospheric emission of CO2 which has increased some 25% since the preindustrial period; on the analyses of historical temperature data which suggest we currently may be in a warming period; on global climate modeling, presently inadequate but necessary to analyze the past as well as to make future predictions; on climatic effects; and on possible mitigation methods for CO2 injections resulting from fossil fuel combustion. Intended primarily as a primere on GCC for the fossil fuel technical community, the relationships between fossil fueled systems and atmospheric injections of CO2 are addressed only in a general fashion. The details of various technologies and their systems (conventional and future) are left for the reader to obtain from other sources. The second part notes in more abbreviated form some economic, demographic and international considerations. The use of an identity points to population increases as one key determinant of future GCC effects. The uncertainties, scientific and other, are noted throughout; they inhibit the reaching of conclusions regarding GH impacts on GCC. A large number of literature citations are provided, leading to further references on the subject. © 1992.