ABSTRACT
The biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the earth are in dynamic equilibrium; each is changing and yet each sustains the others in the sequence of naturally occurring events. However, human activities of landscape modification, resource exploitation, and effluent flow have reached sufficient magnitude to perturb the global ecosystem for an indefinite time into the future. Carefully calibrated, detailed measurements of the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration were begun at the South Pole, Antarctica early in 1957 and at Mauna Loa, Hawaii in March of 1958 as part of the International Geophysical Year program. Along with global temperature changes resulting from an increase of the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, a change in the pattern of precipitation is also predicted. A warmer world will be accompanied by increased precipitation resulting from increased ocean evaporation rates. In order to limit the global use of fossil fuels, many conscious actions must be taken.
