NAS panel is concerned over atmospheric ${\mathrm{CO}}_2$ buildup

A major buildup in atmospheric carbon dioxide could increase average global temperatures by as much as 6 °C over the next century or two; this is the chief problem associated with continued worldwide dependence on fossil fuels, according to a panel on energy and climate convened by the National Academy of Sciences. The effects of such a climatic change, throwing the Earth’s habitable surface back to conditions that prevailed in the Mesozoic Era, probably would include a shift of the agricultural and fishing zones toward the poles and destabilization of those semi‐arid regions now considered marginal for human occupancy. The panel has recommended extensive further study of the energy‐climate relationship, a tremendous interdisciplinary research effort and new institutions to deal with the problem. Physicists may be able to contribute to meeting the ${\mathrm{CO}}_2$ threat through development of improved theoretical models and more precise determination of numerous measurements needed for accurate climatic predictions.

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