The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Lessons on climate change

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Sunday, Jun 10, 2007
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Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Lessons on climate change

Staff Reporter

Experts answer questions on acid rain, depletion of ozone layer and oceanic currents

SAVE THE PLANET: Children take part in a competition in Chennai on Saturday. — Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

Chennai: Weather experts spoke to schoolchildren about climate change, pollution and the environment at a discussion organised by Oxford Bookstore and World Wide Fund for Nature on Saturday.

After an hour's lecture on global warming, a little hand in the audience went up with the question, `Will Chennai sink when ocean levels rise?'

R.V. Sharma and S. R. Ramanan, both from the Regional Meteorological Centre here, were a bit taken aback. They hastened to assure the young questioner that the effects of global warming were gradual and only very low-level land would be affected.

"It is time that all of us take efforts to control global warming, as it can cause floods, drought and loss of life," said Mr. Sharma, Deputy Director-General of Meteorology. He suggested that children in the neighbourhood form a carpool to go to school.

S. R. Ramanan, Director of Area Cyclone Warning Centre, clarified that one unusual weather event did not mean climate change.

Data for at least 30 years would have to be analysed. The children asked questions about acid rain, depletion of the ozone layer and oceanic currents.

They participated in a painting competition.

Aisiri of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Anna Nagar; Sneha Lakshmi of Vidya Mandir, Kavin Anand of Sankara Vidyashram and Niveditha of Bala Vidya Mandir won prizes.

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