The Research and Science of Global Warming

Statement

The Research and Science of Global Warming

Antarctica is not an area on the globe most people visit regularly. But it is the home of extremely important research concerning climate change and how our Earth's temperature has changed throughout history.

Recently, as a Member of the House Science and Technology Committee, I had the opportunity to take part in a bipartisan Congressional delegation tour, led by Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA), to study the effects of climate change on location in Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia.

Simply put, it is a fact the Earth's climate continues to change.

The issue of climate change is at the forefront of many discussions in Washington D.C. and throughout the country. The House has had several hearings on climate change, which unfortunately, often times became media circuses instead of informative briefings.

The question now needs to be what is the human impact and what can we do to lessen that impact.

Some of my colleagues in Congress have promoted wild accusations of the impacts humans have, and have proposed potentially disastrous solutions.

This trip provided the ten Members of the House Science Committee who made the trek with a tremendous opportunity to speak with experts and researchers in the field not in a politically-charged committee room in Washington D.C.

Our first stop was McMurdo Station, which is home to about 1,200 U.S. scientists and staff, including a few Nebraskans, the largest community in Antarctica.

According to the experts at McMurdo, Antarctica contains 70-80 percent of the world's fresh water, but in ice form. Right now, the ice cap is actually growing slightly and the area is experiencing some cooling.

If that trend was to reverse, however, and Antarctica was to lose part of its polar ice caps, it could contribute significantly to sea water rise. So, it is in our best interest to keep a close watch on temperature changes in the Antarctic, as a rise in sea level would swamp our coastal areas, significantly disrupting our ports.

Surprisingly, there is actually relatively little precipitation in the form of snow every year at the South Pole, but what falls doesn't melt, allowing ice core samples to give scientists an accurate reflection of climate history through the ages.

It's critical we avoid the temptation of finger-pointing and instead take a lesson from those scientists in Antarctica - who represent more than a dozen countries - and work together to identify and implement a balanced solution.

As we go forward with this debate, our focus needs to be on new technology, encouraging innovation and development to protect our environment and ensure we do not hamstring our economy.

Agriculture producers have always been good stewards of the environment. In Nebraska and throughout our country, the agriculture industry is constantly looking for more improved irrigation methods and equipment. Research and innovations in technology are constantly showing us more efficient, environmentally friendly methods to produce the food that feeds the world while conserving our natural resources.

The world is a small place. The research being conducted in such far off areas as the South Pole will have lasting effects, even here in Nebraska. We have the responsibility to be vigilant, and to base our policies on sound science while making use of exciting new technology. Our future depends on it.

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