October 31, -2- John W. Harrison 7977 The I'Iiarni Beaeh Workshop was attended by about 70 experts in climatology, ecology, forestry, agriculture, geochemistry, and oceanography. Based on the discussions at this Workshop, the Weinberg study group recommended that DOE research money be committed to three specifie projects which must be started irnmediately: of the amount of carbon stored, and the rates of fixation and rel-ease from the major forest types of the world. 1. The determination 2. The verification in ocean rvater 3. The measurement of carbon dioxide and on the surface of oceans. of the carbon dioxide buffer factor in the atmosphere In addition, a srnall amount of research money should be given to acknowl-edged experts in these areas to write t'research Program development paperstt. A list of these research papers is appended to this memorandum. Dave Slade reiterated that the key step in carrying out the required work to assess the potential- environmental damage of CO" was to select a key individual and organization as the foeal point for this work. He plans to use an RFP route to select the indivldual. Dr. trIeinberg strongl-y suggested that this individual be a high caliber scientist willing to devote the next ten or more years to this type of work, and who wil-l- be protected in This does not an organization that has al-l- the required support facilities. imply that all the research will be done by the organization that wins the contract, but it does indicate that the key individual will- be the focal point and administrator of the program. The committee emphasized a number of times that this individual be prirnarily a scientist, and the program be one of basic research rather than engineering or developnent-type research. The consensus of the group was that an aerospace tyPe approach, i.e., PERT charts, etc., rvould not be likely to achieve the desired results. Dr. Malone then discussed the report recently completed by the of Sciences on Energy and Climate. He distributed a 40-page to all attendees. The National Acadeny of Sciences of the report sumrary that: report concludes National- Academy climatic effects of carbon dioxide release may be primary 1-imiting factor on energy production from the fuels fossil over the next few centuries. 1. The 2. It that the direct generation of production heat from the and consumption of energy over the next fevr centuries will cause a rise of more than 0.5oC in global average air temperature. 3. There are profound uncertainties regarding the carbon cycle, climate, and their interdependence. These uncertainties can be resolved only by a well-coordinated effort of exrraordinarily interdisciplinary character. does not now appear