The University News

Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Patrick Binder Jimmy O. Adegoke is involved in research in the Niger Delta.

As part of the "Our Changing Global Environment" lecture series, Jimmy O. Adegoke, an associate professor in the department of geosciences, power-pointed his way through a discussion of the world's climate change. He had an attentive audience last Wednesday in the Plaza conference room at the Administrative Center.

After his presentation, Adegoke said there isn't an argument anymore against the idea that the world's average temperature is increasing.

"There is a clear consensus among climate scientists that global warming is happening. There is no debate on whether it's happening or not; it's happening," Adegoke said. "Any scientists that have done any amount of serious work do not contest that the earth is warming."

He said the arguments are now focused on what is driving this rise in temperature. Adegoke believes multiple factors have to be considered in deciding the cause.

"There has been an increase in green house gasses," he said. "They certainly are the main driver, but there's more to it than that."

According to Adegoke's own research, how land is used has an impact on the surrounding climate. He used Kansas City as an example, describing its changes from farmland to subdivisions and skyscrapers - a heat island effect increased the total temperature.

The heat island effect is when an urban area is significantly hotter than the surrounding non-urban areas. Asphalt or concrete absorb much more heat than grassland or forests due to their consistency and darker color, Adegoke stated in his presentation. Because of increased cloud cover due to pollution of greenhouse gases, the heat can't escape to the atmosphere ahead. Thus, it creates increased temperature, and makes cities have different climates than their surrounding non-urban areas.

"We first need to be convinced that this affects us," Adegoke said. "Even us in the Midwest, we need to be concerned. When asked what we can do to stop climate change, one of the things Kansas City has done is they have a climate protection plan for the city now, that is encouraging citizens to look for alternatives to the business as usual way."

Adegoke cited using public transportation, walking or riding a bike as ways to cut down on harmful gasses that contribute to global warming. He said Kansas City leaders are looking for ways to increase mass transit in the city and are encouraging the use of energy-efficient light bulbs.

Continued...

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