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For two decades, scientists have been warning that
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons (bromine-containing
fluorocarbons) may deplete the stratospheric ozone shield that
screens out some of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet rays and thus
regulates the amounts which reach the Earth's surface. CFCs have
been used as refrigerants, solvents, foam blowing agents, and
outside the United States, as aerosol propellants; Halons are used
primarily as fire-fighting agents. Increased radiation could result
in an increase in skin cancers, suppression of the human immune
system, and decreased productivity of terrestrial and aquatic
organisms, including some commercially important crops. This book
deals with implementation, policy issues and phase out of methyl
bromide. In September 1987, 47 countries (including the United
States) agreed to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete
the Ozone Layer, which first required controls on the world's
consumption of ozone depleting substances. Over 160 countries have
signed on to the Protocol, whose phasedown schedule for developed
countries was accelerated twice and completely phased out Halon
production at the end of 1994 and CFC production at the end of
1995. The Protocol's coverage has also been extended to include
hydrochlorofluorocarbons and other chlorine- and bromine-containing
substances such as some solvents and methyl bromide, a widely used
soil fumigant.
Some in Congress are concerned about the possible vulnerability of
U.S. coastal areas to tsunamis, and about the adequacy of early
warning for coastal areas of the western Atlantic Ocean. This stems
from the December 26, 2004, tsunami that devastated many coastal
areas around the northern Indian Ocean, where few tsunami early
warning systems currently operate. The tsunami was caused by a
strong underwater earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.
The earthquake and tsunami together are estimated to have claimed
as many as 300,000 lives. Affected nations, assisted by others, are
pursuing multilateral efforts through the UNESCO Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to develop a regional tsunami
detection and warning network that would guard coastal populations
around the Indian Ocean. Those efforts would coincide with the
United States' goal of upgrading and expanding its tsunami
detection and early warning network. Some developed countries
bounding the Indian Ocean region already have operating tsunami
warnings systems. However, in other areas of these countries and in
neighboring countries, an emergency management infrastructure to
receive tsunami warnings is lacking. This leaves local officials
incapable of rapidly alerting the public to evacuate or to take
other safety precautions. Disaster management experts assert that
an emergency ...
Congress is concerned about the possible vulnerability of U.S.
coastal areas to tsunamis and the adequacy of early warning for
coastal areas. This stems from a December 26, 2004, tsunami that
devastated many coastal areas around the northern Indian Ocean,
where few tsunami early warning systems had operated. Caused by a
strong underwater earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia,
the tsunami claimed an estimated 220,000 lives. Nations affected by
the 2004 tsunami, assisted by other counties, launched a
multilateral effort to develop a network for regional tsunami
detection and warning of coastal populations around the Indian
Ocean, the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS). The UNESCO
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) leads that
international effort. To leverage costs of the IOTWS, IOC members
have suggested using extant ocean observation and monitoring
networks, data collection systems, marine buoys and tide gage
networks, and global telecommunications systems. This may pose the
technical challenge of standardizing communication protocols to
ensure interoperability of international systems. Also, supporters
of the IOTWS consider a fully deployed U.S. network an important
component of a future global tsunami warning capability.
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