European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 21, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Global warming the basics by Robert Cooke new Day Here Are the most frequently asked questions about global warming according to a Survey by the american museum of natural history and the environmental defense fund. The questions were gathered to help prepare a major exhibit on global warming that opens May 15 at the museum in new York City. The suggested answers Are from new Day. Q. What is global warming a. A projected gradual increase in worldwide average temperature. Many scientists suspect that unless something is done to prevent it average temperatures May Rise by 2 to 9 degrees fahrenheit perhaps by the Middle of the next Century. Other scientists however doubt the warming will occur. Q. What causes global warming a excess Quot greenhouse gases Quot in the atmosphere these include Carbon dioxide released into the air by Power plants factories and automobiles methane from natural Gas Wells grass eating animals and termites and nitrous oxide from agriculture. Man made gases called chlorofluorocarbons also known As rfcs Are also believed to play a Small role in the greenhouse effect. They Are being phased out however because they play a big role in destroying the Ozone layer. Q. What is the greenhouse effect and what does it have to do with global warming a. The Quot greenhouse effect Quot is a natural trapping of heat in the Earth a atmosphere. Light from the Sun is absorbed by the Earth s surface and then is radiated Back toward space As infrared Energy which is blocked by greenhouse gases. The trapped Energy warms the atmosphere without this natural greenhouse warming Earth would probably be too cold to support abundant life. The problem is that huge amounts of Carbon dioxide Are released into the air As we Burn Coal Oil and Gas increasing the heat trapping effect. It is suspected but not proven that the whole atmosphere will warm up As a result. Q. How does Felling tropical rain forests affect global warming a. Trees absorb Carbon dioxide in the process called photosynthesis to make their own tissues such As leaves roots and branches. As a result they remove Large amounts of the most important greenhouse Gas from the air. Destroying Large numbers of Trees increases the likelihood of global warming. Q. Will coastal cities be flooded readers action line la exceptions of for Holiday crunch it a when i a Rived from the states at my unit in Kaiserslautern during the Holiday season my unit had no Beds or space for me to stay. So they took me up to the billeting House Ramstein inn and told me i would get a statement of non availability for government quarters. When the Holiday season ended i got a statement signed by installation coordinator of Rhine ordnance Barracks and by my commander. When i took the statement to the housing manager they would not sign the statement. They said that in a a Stafl sergeant e-6 on deferred travel and not authorized la temporary lodging allowance. So my questions Are once i showed up at my unit an battling the greenhouse effect some scientists believe the Quot greenhouse effect Quot global warming caused by Carboni dioxide in the atmosphere could be countered by fertilizing oceans with Iron. Here s How they say it would work. The burning of Fossil fuels and the destruction of tropical forests adds 6 billion tons of Carbon to tha atmosphere each year. Three billion tons of Carbon is absorbed annually by the oceans soil. Or Nanaimo Anrol no Flonta who j during photosynthesis Marine plants remove Carbon dioxide from Ocean _ water. As Carbon dioxide la removed the water absorbs More Carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. A 300,000 tons of High Grade Iron dispersed annually could remove an average of 2 Pihion. Tons of Carbon a year. Source Washington Post Miami Herald 6/18/90 a. That is not known. Depending on whether much warming occurs and whether warming causes a lot of ice near the poles to melt sea level May Rise a few inches a few feet or maybe not at All. Some climate researchers now suspect sea level will not Rise More than a few inches. A National Academy of sciences panel suggested that the United states could Cope with sea level rises of a foot or two. But poor Low lying nations such As Bangladesh could be devastated. Q. What can i do about global warming a. Conserve Energy Plant Trees and shrubs bicycle instead of driving. Anything that reduces the burning of fuels limits the amounts of greenhouse gases entering the air. Q. Winters seem warmer recently is this because of global warming a. Maybe but no one knows yet. The warmth could just be part of Normal variations in temperature. Was told they had no place to put me do i stay outside am i supposed to pay for my own place what should i have done and finally How do i get reimbursed for the 20 Days i had to stay at the Ramstein inn until a place came open for me in the Barracks. Staff. Sgt. Calvin tuck Kaiserslautern Germany it. Col. Alfred c. Purlson 29th area support group replies the 29th area support groups housing office regrets that you arrived in Kaiserslautern during the Holiday season and your unit could not accommodate you in the Barracks. During the time Frame Rhine ordnance Barracks did experience an overcrowding situation. Several exceptions to policy were approved to allow soldiers to collect la to cover the expense to living in a hotel until Barracks space became available. Krten int graphics Dan Clifford q. Will Summers get hotter a. Probably if global warming is real. Q. How will global warming affect our kids and future generations a. If it occurs they will face stronger storms longer and More frequent droughts More flooding changed agricultural patterns loss of wildlife habitat. It s also possible however that warming could open Rich new areas to agriculture require less fuel use in Winter and redistribute weather patterns so some deserts get More rainfall q. What will happen to animals a. More species May face extinction As their favored habitats disappear. Such extinctions Are already occurring As tropical forests Are Cut Down. And Coral reefs which provide essential habitat for Many sea creatures May be damaged severely by warmed seawater. If you have not submitted a request for exception to policy to cover your la expenses please Contact is. Swinngan Telephone 483-8202/building 3104, room 110, Danner Cavern for submittal  write us readers action line is the readers a court of last resort Quot striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are Noi readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers. Page 6 a the stars and stripes tuesday april 21, 1992