Planet Earth 2007: Top 10 Science Revelations

#10: Impending Oil Peak

With the price of oil climbing and the world’s heavy dependency on this fossil fuel, estimates of just how much oil we have left are critical knowledge for governments and policy makers. A new study this year predicted that global oil production could peak as soon as 2008, and would likely do so before 2018. After this peak, production would decline, causing potential supply problems, though experts disagree on just how much oil might be left in the Earth.

…#5: Carbon Dioxide

Despite the dire predictions of scientists of the effects of continuing to emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, one study this year found that emission rates are actually accelerating because of the rising amount of the gas needed to produce one unit of wealth and the declining efficient of Earth’s natural carbon sinks. Other studies showed how much carbon dioxide these sinks were taking up, with drought reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that plants take up, but forest growth increasing the amount that trees siphon out of the atmosphere. Just what effect will win out will be seen in the coming years and will present challenges to governments making plans to curb emissions.

LiveScience