History Corner
John Mercer- Alarmist or Visionary?
In 1978 Mercer's prolific research was published in the Journal Nature, titled West Antarctic ice sheet and CO2 greenhouse effect: a threat of disaster, writing, "If the global consumption of fossil fuels continues to grow at its present rate, atmospheric CO2 content will double in about 50 years. Climatic models suggest that the resultant greenhouse-warming effect will be greatly magnified in high latitudes. The computed temperature rise at lat 80° S could start rapid deglaciation of West Antarctica, leading to a 5 m rise in sea level...." Read more by visiting the story on History Corner.
Image credit: Antarctica, 1965, Series 5: Images, John H. Mercer Papers, The Ohio State University, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program
History Corner
John Mercer- Alarmist or Visionary?
In 1978 Mercer's prolific research was published in the Journal Nature, titled West Antarctic ice sheet and CO2 greenhouse effect: a threat of disaster, writing, "If the global consumption of fossil fuels continues to grow at its present rate, atmospheric CO2 content will double in about 50 years. Climatic models suggest that the resultant greenhouse-warming effect will be greatly magnified in high latitudes. The computed temperature rise at lat 80° S could start rapid deglaciation of West Antarctica, leading to a 5 m rise in sea level...." Read more by visiting the story on History Corner.
Image credit: Antarctica, 1965, Series 5: Images, John H. Mercer Papers, The Ohio State University, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program
