Conference turris::scandia

205.0. "CO2 warming boost Finnish grain production?" by TLE::SAVAGE (Neil, @Spit Brook) Fri Apr 24 1987 10:26

 *NIB****                  Copyright 1986 XINHUA                      SISCOM IP

            Greenhouse Effect Could Improve Finland's Grain Crops

    Helsinki April 23 (XINHUA) -- The "greenhouse effect," an otherwise
    diasterous worldwide warming trend caused by accumulations of carbon
    dioxide in the atmosphere, may boost finnish grain production 10 to 20
    percent, a recent study says. 
    
    In a report to the International Institute of Applied System Analysis
    (IIASA), Finnish experts say the effect, which could be disasterous to
    warmer countries, will raise temperatures by up to five degrees
    centigrade in the north European country and move its grain growing
    areas further north. 
    
    Scientists have suggested that carbon dioxide, produced by burning
    fossil fuels such as coal and crude oil, is gathering in the atmosphere
    and increasing temperatures. This rise in average temperatures could
    melt some of the arctic icecap, raising ocean levels and flood the
    earth's low lying areas, many of them heavilypopulated. 
    
    The Finnish researchers said doubling the amount of the gas in
    atmosphere means a rise of 1.5 to 5.5 degrees centigrade in
    temperature. By the year 2030, Finland's grain growing season will be
    two months longer and outputs will increase. Heavier rains expected to
    occur at seeding time with the rising temperatures will cause problems
    to Finnish farmers, already troubled by spring rains. 


                          Received:  24-APR-1987 05:39