Do you remember when or where you first heard or read about "Climate Change"? Although I do not remember the exact year, I do know that I heard about it in the film, “The Unchained Goddess”, which was produced by Bell Labs, the same year I started kindergarten. (Full Movie Below)
I always loved it when we got to watch the Bell Labs Science films in grade school. Science and math were my favorite subjects and enjoyed the character of "Dr. Research" played by Dr. Frank Baxter. This film, along with "Our Mr. Sun" & "Hemo the Magnificent" were my favorites. To this day, I also remember Dr. Research comparing our circulation system with "sea water" in Hemo, the Magnificent”.
I believe I saw “The Unchained Goddess” by 2nd grade (if not 1st), and after watching it at least once a year for the next 4 years, it had an impact on my interest of science, math and my lifelong interest in weather. Near the end of the film, "Dr. Research" implied our waste products may be responsible for our warming climate. They didn't just make this stuff up guys - these films were based on extensive research from the scientific community. There were no big political differences regarding the validity of the data and even 60 years ago, it was revealing a warming trend.
No matter what your thoughts are about climate change, scroll down to watch the movie. Although there are a few silly parts (it was made for children and included interactive dialog with animated characters) it has a wealth of basic weather information and you may even learn something from it. Plus, if you ever did see any of these films in school, it’s a walk down memory lane.
Watch the full movie when you can, but at least, move to the below marker and watch/listen to that clip.
The following starts at approximately 50:05 in.
Dr. Frank C. Baxter: “Extremely dangerous questions. Because with our present knowledge we have no idea what would happen? Even now, man may be unwittingly changing the world’s climate through the waste products of his civilization. Due to our release through factories and automobiles every year of more than 6 billion tons of carbon dioxide, which helps air absorb heat from the sun, our atmosphere seems to be getting warmer.”
Richard Carlson: “This is bad?”
Dr. Frank C. Baxter: “Well, it’s been calculated a few degrees rise in the earth’s temperature would melt the polar ice caps. And if this happens, an inland sea would fill a good portion of the Mississippi valley. Tourists in glass bottom boats would be viewing the drowned towers of Miami through 150 feet of tropical water. For in weather, were not only dealing with forces of a far greater variety than even the atomic physicist encounters, but with life itself.”