The Hillsdale College science department agrees with the conclusions reached by the United Nation’s Intercontinental Panel on Climate Change’s newest report.
“It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming [of the earth] since the mid-20th century,” the report, released on Sept. 25 said.
Professors from the physics, chemistry, and biology departments explained how humans affect climate change.
“Evidence that humans are responsible for the bulk of global warming has been increasing over the years,” Professor of Physics Jim Peters said.
According to Peters, the main cause of global warming is an increase in carbon dioxide.
“Light from sun comes in and warms the Earth, and the atmosphere works as a blanket,” Peters said. “Greenhouse gases lock heat in, such as methane, water vapor and carbon dioxide.”
According to Professor of Physics Ken Hayes, each human produces 20 tons of carbon dioxide per year. The carbon acts as a blanket which steadily warms the Earth.
“Carbon has been trapped in the earth and incorporated for billions of years, creating coal, oil and natural gas,” Peters said. “Since the Industrial Revolution and particularly the last 50 years, we have used up a significant portion of the carbon.”
Hayes was inspired by a 2009 physics journal article by Harry Pollock of the University of Michigan.
By using 300-meter-deep boreholes in the ground, Pollock was able to determine how long it took for heat to travel into the earth. The technique allowed Pollock to track Earth’s temperature back 1,000 years.
“The ground is like a recording device,” Hayes said.
Hayes made a scaled down version of a borehole in his own back yard to test Pollock’s experiment and had the same result.
“We have to show people so they don’t have to believe me but see it for themselves,” Hayes said.
Professor of Chemistry Mark Nussbaum said the data about the Earth growing warmer was conclusive, even if the cause is not.
“Man-made things can have global effects, and what we do in our habits has global effects,” Nussbaum said.
According to Professor of Biology Tony Swinehart, the heat has significant effects on ecosystems.
“Life will adapt but life adapts better when change moves slowly,” Swinehart said.
For example, Swinehart said if temperatures change, crops will have to be moved north, where the soil is of a lower quality, despite the temperature change. This will result in a plummeting productivity of crops.
As species are forced move, certain species will not be able to adapt.
“The polar bear is the poster child of the environmental movement,” Professor of Biology Jeffery VanZant said. “Once the ice is gone, they are gone.”
The professors all agreed there were ways to combat global warming, but first, people need to understand that global warming is a real problem.
“[The problem is] significant enough that people should recognize that if we are going to do things, we need to do them soon so it’s not as intense in the future,” Nussbaum said.
Peters emphasized the need for education. He said people need to be educated about the facts so they can try and solve the problem.
Hayes said everybody needs to change their carbon emissions.
“This is not a problem solved by individuals,” Hayes said.
Nussbaum and Swinehart offered other solutions.
“Auto companies are developing better hybrids and electrics that are becoming widely accepted.” Nussbaum said.
He suggested that companies through their own creativity not only address environmental problems, but offer something people like.
“That works better than if the government comes in and tells you what to do,” Nussbaum said. “We need responsible leaders to see long-term issues and make a huge difference.”
Swinehart said he, as a conservative himself, is looking for conservative solutions to global warming.
“We should not do anything immediate and drastic to negatively affect the economy,” Swinehart said. “My preference is innovation and incentive.”
Swinehart said being independent from foreign oil was good for both conservatives and liberals. He gave an example of burning the methane from landfills as an energy source, and said the immediate problem is making these fuels economically feasible.
“When America puts its mind to something, we can do anything,” Swinehart said. “We put a man on the moon.”
Swinehart encouraged students to be open-minded about the facts and not to avoid global warming for fear of being labelled a liberal.
“Liberals stole environmentalism from the conservatives,” he said. “This is also a faith issue with regard to environmental stewardship.”
