2023-09-03 01:41:30
Researchers, “need accurate research and models for the Anthropocene”… Seeking direction for a sustainable future
Photo enlarged Last month’s science journal Nature cover photo<네이처>
A flame sea urchin wrapped in blue plastic vinyl and fishing line appeared on the cover of the science journal ‘Nature’ in July. This photo symbolizes the fact that all bodies of water on Earth, such as seas, lakes and reservoirs, are suffering from plastic waste.
In this way, countless wastes emitted by human beings have become a boomerang that threatens the survival of life on Earth, including humans. Since the late 2000s, there have been frequent discussions in the scientific community that the era in which humans live should be called the ‘Anthropocene’ following the Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. This is because plastics, such as vinyl, that do not rot and pile up all over the stratum are found all over the globe.
At the Korea-Europe Science and Technology Conference (EKC) held in Munich, Germany from the 14th to the 18th of this month, discussions were held on changes to the Earth and the environment caused by human activities under the theme of ‘Living in the Anthropocene’. Dr. Eunyoung Lee of the Department of Geology at the University of Vienna, Austria, who chaired the Anthropocene session held on the 17th (local time), said, “Since World War II, various human activities such as industrial development, energy consumption, and transportation have overwhelmed the power of nature.” In particular, ‘artificial materials’ such as aluminum, concrete, and plastic were created, and the stratigraphic signals accumulated through them clearly exceed the existing Holocene (geological age from 10,000 years ago to the present).”
Dr. Andreas Lang, a professor of environment and biodiversity at the University of Salzburg, Austria, who was the keynote speaker of the session, said, “In order for us to live ‘better’ on Earth, we must be aware of the fact that humans are fundamentally changing the way the planet Earth works.” He ordered that experts in various fields should gather together to contemplate the impact humans have on various environments of the earth, including rivers. He said, “For example, when looking at rivers, fields that value carbon neutrality mention the need for hydropower, but biology and ecology emphasize the importance of biodiversity.” Experts should set important priorities by sector and region and manage them together.”
In this session, warnings regarding global warming continued. Sea surface temperatures in the Antarctic Ocean have shown little change on average since the mid-20th century, paradoxically providing evidence of global warming. Associate Professor Park Won-seon of the IBS Center for Climate Physics at Pusan National University said, “Global warming melts Antarctic glaciers and sends fresh water to the sea, which lowers the salinity of the sea and makes sea ice more easily, which lowers the Antarctic sea surface temperature.” Normally, salty seawater needs to drop below -1.9℃ in order to freeze, but if freshwater is introduced, ice can easily freeze even at a higher water temperature.
The decrease in stratospheric ozone concentration and the increase in greenhouse gases have intensified the ‘Southern Hemisphere Polar Oscillation (SAM)’ phenomenon, which is also one of the reasons why Antarctica’s temperature has become ‘less low’. SAM refers to the repeated tensioning and loosening of the Antarctic sea level pressure and the resulting strong westerly jet stream. Intensification of the SAM phenomenon increases the evaporation of water from the sea surface, causing more intense vertical mixing of the sea water, which cools the surface water. As the surface water cools, the temperature near the sea surface decreases. Consequently, this is why Antarctica’s sea surface temperature does not seem to change compared to other regions. Professor Park Won-sun said, “As we continue our research, we learn that phenomena that seem unrelated to global warming can also be the result of global warming. he emphasized.
Jungseop Lim, a researcher at the University of Munich, who gave a presentation on the topic of ‘The role of anthropogenic aerosols in the life cycle of clouds’, said, “If the concentration of anthropogenic solid and liquid particles (aerosols) in the atmosphere increases, the ability of clouds to reflect solar radiation may change as a result. There is,” he warned. Clouds are known as a discipline that has not been revealed much, especially in the field of atmospheric science. It is also a major factor creating uncertainty in our climate forecasts. Dr. Lim said, “The influence of cloud radiation has been found to be greater now than in the early 2000s.
What should we do to overcome the Anthropocene and live in a sustainable future? Dr. Lee Seung-hoon of Seoul National University, who presented on the theme of ‘Sustainable Coffee’, suggested that crop cultivation, including coffee cultivation through smart farms, can contribute to reducing carbon emissions. Dr. Lee explained, “Even if we achieve net zero by 2045, it is difficult to reduce carbon emissions easily in the agricultural sector due to the basic industrial attributes of agricultural production and land use.” He said, “Cultivation through smart farms can reduce carbon emissions for land use because they increase production per unit area.” did. In fact, there is a successful case of coffee cultivation in Kangwon National University in an ‘unheated greenhouse’ using eco-friendly insulation materials such as earthen walls and water bags. This greenhouse, which did not use separate energy for heating, maintained a temperature of over 8 degrees Celsius even in a cold wave of -22 degrees Celsius.
Dr. Kim Byung-doo, from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, emphasized the importance of changing individual behaviors and perceptions for carbon neutrality through a presentation titled ‘Promoting a Sustainable Lifestyle through Smartphone Apps’. He introduced the results of the pilot study of the ‘CAMPAIGNers Project’ in progress in 15 cities in 14 countries in Europe and said, “One of the important elements to respond to and mitigate climate change is citizen participation.” “The CAMPAIGNers project aims to promote individual behavioral change, such as using a mobile app to eat organic food and reduce car use,” he said. Everyone knows. It just can’t be put into action,” he added.
Reporter Lee Sae-bom in Munich / Joint Reporter’s Association of Science Journalists
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