Nature Notes
Oct 21: We hear and read a lot about the so called “Greenhouse effect” which has maintained a nice balance of global temperature for millions of years but is now being upset by the increase in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The increase in temperature that could result from this is a matter of great concern. I read today that temperature records which date back to 1856 show that this year will be the 6th year out of the last 10 with a higher average temperature than any year prior to 1980: The record year was 1988 but 1990 will probably break the record again. This may just be a chance warm spell or it may not. It is a daunting thought that in a world with so many developing countries we may need to reduce emissions to pre~industrial revolution levels to reverse the process.