Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
The relationship between vegetation and atmospheric pollution can also be
applied to the field of agriculture. Crossing pollution levels observed and different
types of crops makes it possible to quantify the damage that is caused, and to
forecast any loss in agricultural production [CAS 03] as far as the relationship
between pollution levels and effects has been pre-established.
The risks associated with pollution change dramatically when the risks are
expanded on a global scale. These global scale risks, nevertheless, continue to affect
our daily lives. Geographical information is particularly able to acknowledge these
changes from the local level to the global level.
6.3.3.4.
Greenhouse gases and the global risk
The life span of certain pollutants and their build-up (accumulation) in the lower
layers of the atmosphere over a long period of time have completely changed risk-
management strategies, which are developed to prevent the risks associated with
pollution from developing. Prevention is no longer a question of introducing an
avoidance policy to pollution plumes, it is now about limiting the emissions that are
produced at the source. Over the past few years industrial waste has dramatically
decreased, and as a result of the decentralization of certain administrative tasks in
France, it is now up to the individual regions in France to limit the amount of
greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, it is also up to the general public to change
their habits in order to save energy. However, the inertia associated with the build-
up of pollutants in the Earth's atmosphere makes climate change inevitable. In order
to save more energy a climate adaptation strategy needs to be introduced and this
can be in the form of energy saving houses, growing crops locally, etc.
Risk management and examining the risks associated with pollution form part of
a science that is still in its early stages. Trying to prevent such risks from arising is
linked to the paradigms that have been developed from improved modern
technology. Knowledge of the different impacts that pollution can have on the
environment and on human health is required so that prevention strategies and
climate adaptation strategies can be developed. However, data providing
information on the different impacts that pollution can have on the environment and
on human health is much more complex than the data used to provide information
on pollution levels, especially as far as traditional pollutants are concerned.
Publishing information on pollution measurements with no explanation of their
consequences may be harmful and useless to (stigmatization) the population that is
exposed to such pollutants. Furthermore, the information produced is regarded as
being unhelpful and unnecessary. The information should relate to the following
different paradigms: prevention, alert, monitoring, and adaptation. From the study of
the different sources of pollution to the study of emissions and impacts of pollutants
on the environment and human health, an entire chain of models is created and
generated by information that is produced by multidisciplinary scientific data. The
tools developed within this chain uncertainty grows during the demarche goes on.
However building action takes place in this context of scientific uncertainty.
