Carbon Sootprints (2013/14)
On the North Norfolk coast, a modest observatory houses scientific equipment used by Dr. Philip Wilson and colleagues from the University of East Anglia. They have conducted research into the rise and fall of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Every two minutes, an instrument records the levels of oxygen and CO2 in the air, while also noting the origin of the air sampled. By tracking weather patterns, it is possible to determine where the air came from before it was measured.
The resulting data reveals seasonal cycles, allowing us to visualize the planet "breathing." This invisible process is vital to the ecological balance of all species sharing our planet. However, the alarming trend is that human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, have disrupted this equilibrium, leading to steadily rising CO2 levels. Click here to read an transcript of Philip Wilson and Hannelore Smith in conversation about the research.
To find out more about the Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory visit www.weybourne.uea.ac.uk |
"I have been fortunate to visit the observatory and engage in many fascinating discussions with Dr. Wilson about his research. The silent and invisible rhythms of nature intrigue me. Dr. Wilson, along with others in the scientific community, predicts that rising CO2 levels and increasing temperatures (global warming) will continue to disrupt weather patterns and climate, impacting the natural world. The question remains: Will nature evolve and adapt to overcome the fallout of human progress, or will we witness the gradual decline and extinction of species?" |
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