Speaker: Paul Crutzen THE BREN SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT
at the University of California, Santa Barbara Presents Dr. Paul Crutzen Nobel Laureate Max Planck Institute for Chemistry
Thursday, March 15, 2007 Corwin Pavilion, University Center, UCSB "An Atmospheric Experiment in the Anthropocene Part of the Bren School's Eminent Speaker Series Dr. Crutzen's Research Interests The title of Dr. Crutzen's talk refers to his proposal for a possible "escape route" from potentially out-of-control global warming. He suggests that it is possible to release light-reflecting sulphur particles into the upper atmosphere, which would redirect heat back to space, cooling the global climate. Writing about what he and Eugene F. Stoermer have referred to as the "Anthropocene," the era when Earth's natural systems have become dominated by human activity, Crutzen says, "During the past two centuries, the global effects of human activities have become clearly noticeable. This is the period when data retrieved from glacial ice cores show the beginning of a growth in the atmospheric concentrations of several 'greenhouse gases,' in particular C02 and CH4. Such a starting date also coincides with James Watt's invention of the steam engine, in 1784. About at that time, biotic assemblages in most lakes began to show large changes. "Without major catastrophes like an enormous volcanic eruption, an unexpected epidemic, a large-scale nuclear war, an asteroid impact, a new ice age, or continued plundering of Earth's resources by partially still-primitive technology, mankind will remain a major geological force for many millennia, maybe millions of years, to come. To develop an accepted worldwide strategy leading to sustainability of ecosystems against human-induced stresses will be one of the great future tasks of mankind, requiring intensive research efforts and wise application of acquired knowledge. An exciting but also difficult and daunting task lies ahead of the global research and engineering community to guide mankind towards global, sustainable, environmental management. | |
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