I’m amazed at the rancor that surrounds climate change debates. Recently, a local newspaper described some of my experimental work investigating how elevated carbon dioxide affects poison ivy. Like most studies, we found that poison ivy grows faster under high CO2 conditions.
We know that today’s atmosphere contains more CO2 than it did 150 years ago. Therefore, one might expect today’s poison ivy to grow faster. Simple stuff. Other environmental factors, like development near forested areas, may have also increased its range. That is Wikipedia’s current explanation for the abundance of poison ivy that many of us are experiencing.
But – unlike the belief of one angry newspaper commenter – a rise in developed land does not negate numerous scientific studies that have shown plants grow more vigorously when exposed to elevated CO2. And my observations on poison ivy do not reflect a political bias. They simply underscore that rising CO2 creates its own set of problems, among them acidic oceans and a higher risk of getting a rash when you go hiking.
We can ignore the scientific literature. We can ignore the science altogether. But, then what do we have to go on? The equivalent is a doctor prescribing treatment without your blood test—after all she is biased to tell you to lose weight, get some exercise, and quit drinking.
Superstition and belief provide a weak foundation for understanding the impacts that 7 billion people are having on our only planetary home. Observations and experiments deserve our best attention.
**********
Web Links
Photo, taken on May 14, 2008, courtesy of Carterse via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Support for Earth Wise comes from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY.