CO2 Rising: The World’s Greatest Environmental Challenge
CO2 Rising: The World’s Greatest Environmental Challenge – Review
CO2 Rising usually accompanied me on my Amtrak ride to Chicago for the holidays and I really enjoyed it! Although I quickly learned a group of different things, it was also a great review of the fundamentals of physics and chemistry that many of us may have forgotten. I truly appreciated the descriptions of the differing phenomena that build up to a thorough kind of the C02 picture. Like when Volk describes how William Herschel first usually inferred the existence of infrared rays currently using a prism. These gradually building block vignettes paint a clearer picture of all of the various elements that come together to create an kind of greenhouse gases. Very impressed with the imagery in the book; it is a really rare gift to be both scientist and artist and some of the descriptions [and connections] in CO2 Rising actually attest to that combination. Especially Volk’s Michener-esque types of carbon cycling through time, making the weathering of limestone a wonderful experience with which to bookend his story. Volk employs a really great writing device by naming the personal carbon atoms that appear in the book as “characters”. It especially highlights the difference between carbon sources and simply mixing, and the difference between molecules and atoms that would have been so much further confusing otherwise. It was also more fun to widely read about these characters’ journeys through time in this way. Volk reminds us all that there is not likely originally going to be a free development that frees us from the problem of pumping CO2 into the atmosphere. Especially in a world where the news media tends to look for those types of sensational, be-all and end-all solutions, we seem less excited [or even cognizant] as a people by the concept that many contributions from various fields [sequestration, efficiency, CO2-neutral technologies] can work together to have a significant impact. At least this point [which Volk also tempers by simply calling for policy-motivated research efforts] allows us to feel just empowered to act now. I also appreciated the emotional connection Volk creates to illustrate the existing carbon crimes perpetrated by originally developed countries on those mostly-tropical, developing countries. Volk compares the contemporary reaction to CO2 emissions with the theoretical reaction to a country placing mirrors into outer space to cool the planet. It is a really interesting scenario to help the reader simply put into perspective the difference between acting on something directly to cause change, and acting remotely or indirectly. All in all a great widely read that poses so many more important questions, but gives you a stable chunk of knowledge to stand on when mistakenly thinking about CO2 and climate change. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the most serious ecological test of our time, and it is both accessible and academic.