TTuesday, March 23, 2004, 7PM | Room A118 Pendergrass Library / Veterinarian Hospital [Directions...]
Global Warming: [Film] [Issues] [Science] [Resources]

What’s Up with the Weather?

Produced and Directed by Jon Palfreman
Nova/Frontline
Distributed by WGBH Boston Video, 2000
Two sections, total running time 52 minutes

The overall issue of the inclusive two-hour program is global warming - whether it really exists, whether it is caused by human actions, what the consequences might be, energy consumption throughout the world, political efforts to recognize and deal with global warming, particularly the Kyoto Accords, and possible future scenarios.

Section One (approx. 36 minutes)
Background science and stating the case

This section begins with the program opening and illustrates the difference between weather and climate and what we know about global warming and burning fossil fuels, particularly the attempts to measure global climate now and in both historical and prehistoric times. Information includes studies of ice samples and tree samples, and Keeling's experiments showing earth's respiration and how the rise and fall of CO2 levels correlate with human actions. We see what humans do to produce CO2 and graphics about the sun's rays and the greenhouse effect, and a CO2 lab demonstration showing the effects of carbon dioxide in the air. On the other side of the issue, a Western Fuels Association spokesman maintains that CO2 is a beneficial fertilizer and the only concern is that CO2 levels are too low. There is controversy about the possible effects of CO2 levels in the air, everything from catastrophic to beneficial.

Section Two (approx. 16 minutes)
Benefits and problems of various alternative fuels

Projections indicate increased production of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses both in industrialized and developing countries. Since industrialization produces a healthy economy, all nations wish to continue or even increase their industrial output. Are there ways of producing non-polluting energy? Spokespeople talk about renewable sources, especially hydro, solar, wind, biomass and nuclear power. Cogent points are made for and against each source, and a suggestion is made that we need more research and more informed decision-making.

Note to user:

In order to reduce this two-hour video to a manageable length for library presentation, a certain amount of information has been deleted. In order to take further advantage of the program, and if time permits, the following optional sections may also be viewed.

Optional Section One (approx. 15 minutes)
Politics and Kyoto Conference issues

View this section after the first recommended section

This section begins with the Kyoto conference and highlights the problems and politics involved in setting national limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Fingers are pointed at the U.S., consumer of one quarter of the world's energy and producer of most CO2 atmospheric pollution. We see examples of energy use from toasters to showers to cars to industry. The future of global warming, however, seems to rest with developing countries. If they follow the U.S. models, global warming will be catastrophic. But is it fair to ask them to slow down progress while the U.S. continues to be the primary culprit? The issue is one of pitting rich nations against poorer nations for which increasing industrialization is vital for raising living standards. The problems, of course, have been highly charged politically.

Optional Section Two (approximately 4.5 minutes)
Show closing and wrap-up

View this section last

The wrap up reiterates that the Kyoto accords have failed, CO2 levels will continue to rise, serious results may be seen in rising sea levels, increased intense storms, droughts, crop failures, spread of disease, famine, destruction of species and habitats. Or maybe not. Whatever the degree of result, we're in the fossil fuel era and we have to get out of it with alternative fuels.