Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
science in regulating socio-atmospheric relations
becomes apparent. While science can provide a
sure basis for regulating and penalizing polluters
(Shell's Norco complex has been subject to a
series of financial penalties), its requirement for
definitive evidence can also be a roadblock to
protecting communities and broader ecosystems
from long-term harm. It is in situations like
these that a mix of science and common sense
can provide a useful solution to atmospheric
controversies.
change. Nowhere are these issues illustrated more
effectively than in the field of climate change.
While there is a scientific consensus that climate
change is happening and that it is caused by human
activities, there remains considerable uncertainty
about the precise impacts that climate change will
have on the planet. Furthermore, so-called 'special
interest' science, which is often funded by large
corporations, is deliberately spreading misleading
information that is obscuring the truth about
climate change. Having read this chapter you
will hopefully now be in a position to understand
the crucial role that science plays in helping
society deal with the environmental issues that
are emerging in the Anthropocene. This chapter
should, however, remind you to be constantly
vigilant when you assess the validity of scientific
evidence and be conscious of the conditions under
which such evidence has been produced.
3.5 CONCLUSIONS
In this chapter we have explored the ways in which
the nature of the atmosphere has been shaped by
human activity in the Anthropocene. As part of this
process we have seen how human interventions in
the atmosphere have contributed to changes in the
content of the atmosphere (including acid rain and
photochemical smogs) and in how the atmosphere
as an environmental system operates (in relation
to climate change and ozone depletion in the
upper atmosphere). The account of atmospheric
change in this chapter has been complemented by
a consideration of the role of science in both
contributing to the transformation of the
atmosphere and in helping humankind to better
understand the nature and extent of these changes.
Our discussions of scientists have ranged from
individuals such as Thomas Midgley and Charles
Keeling, to a broader consideration of the nature
of modern science itself. By considering the
broader role of science in atmospheric affairs we
have seen that while science can often provide a
sound basis for judging the extent and impact of
atmospheric change, care must be taken when
using scientific evidence. Although science is often
associated with providing answers, it is important
to realize that these answers are often partial
approximations. Scientific theories and knowledge
change over time as established consensuses rise
and fall. Various practicalities can often hinder the
ability of science to develop definitive pictures
of the nature of human-induced atmospheric
NOTES
1
This occurs when pockets of air and fuel
combust at suboptimal times within the internal
combustion engine.
2
Early fridges utilized toxic gases such as methyl
chloride, which were highly dangerous when
leaks occurred.
3
The annual fluctuations in atmospheric carbon
dioxide identified within the Keeling Curve
reflect the fact that there is an annual increase
and decrease in global CO
2
. This fluctuation is
the product of the fact that when trees and
foliage grow in summer seasons they absorb
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (reducing
its overall concentration); in the autumn this
CO
2
is returned to the global climate (increasing
atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide).
The reason that this fluctuation is not smoothed
over by the counterbalancing of southern and
northern hemisphere summers and winters is
because the northern hemisphere has more
land mass (and plant life) than the south and thus
generates a globally significant seasonal flux in
carbon dioxide levels.
4
The full text of Fumifugiumcan be downloaded
(accessed 3 August 2012).
