Global Change

Research Group

Today, there is an increase in concern that humans may be exceeding their carrying capacity on the earth, and that our effect is going beyond just "down stream" or "down wind" but rather, at the biosphere level, ignorant of political boundaries, race, color or creed. The hole in the ozone layer and the increase in CO₂ concentration of the earth's atmosphere are two examples. Since the beginning of the industrial age in the 1880's CO₂ has risen by almost 25% potentially resulting in an increase in the global mean temperatures.

A major unknown is just how much the world's oceans and land vegetation will help out in "soaking" up the excess CO₂.

The SDSU Global Change Research Group is conducting research to elucidate the responses of plants and ecosystems to elevated CO₂ in order to aid the understanding of potential changes, so that politicians can make informed policy decisions that affect the world's biological future.