Check out this cool infographic talking about climate change and the impact it’s having on this planet. The thumbnail to the left is only a small portion, click on that for the full image.
(via LivingGreen magazine)
Climate Change infographic
Big increases in global CO2 in 2012
2012 saw large increases in the amount of atmospheric CO2, with a jump of 2.67ppm (parts per million). As a comparison, between 2000 and 2010, the annual rate of increase was just under 2ppm; in the 1960s it was less than 1ppm. In spite of this data and political paralysis on the issue, scientists still talk as if we have some hope of averting catastrophic climate change on this planet. Let’s face it, the only way that will happen is if/when renewable energy becomes so much cheaper and more accessible to the average consumer that they’ll rush to embrace that. Until then, our greed and short-sightedness will keep us on this path. By the time the effects are so overwhelming that even the GOP has to pull their heads out of the sand and admit the problem, it’ll be too late to fix it.
Sorry, kids. Yes, we know exactly what our current course of action is doing to the environment you will rely upon when you’re our age. Or at least, we have a really, really good idea of what will happen, just some disagreement about the exact timing of things. Don’t let future history suggest otherwise. The people of this era are choosing this path for our own short term gain. I’m doing what I can to help influence others via this blog and my own actions, but it’s a really tough battle.
(via NBC news)
A physical mechanism linking extreme weather with climate change
Scientists have identified exactly how it is that climate change may increase the likelihood of extreme weather events around the globe. You can read the full details here, but the gist of it is that there are normally what is, in essence, atmospheric ‘waves’ oscillating between the artic and tropic regions, which help mix things up. During recent extreme weather events, those waves were more or less frozen in place, something which climate change may make more likely as the planet is not heating uniformly (the poles heat more than the tropical areas, hence there’s less temperature different between them to drive the oscillations).
Climate change in the news
Climate change is becoming more of a focus for me…we’re learning more and more, but also starting to see more effects of this. So, I’ll be posting summaries, like this one, of various climate change stories I find on the web, rather than posting them one at a time.
First up, the latest National Climate Assessment, produced by more than 300 government scientists and outside experts, paints a bleak picture for this country. The report, still in draft form, predicts warming and more extreme weather events. Read more here.
A forthcoming report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was leaked online (not due to be released until September of 2013 as it is not yet peer-reviewed), and paints a grim picture for our civilization…if we continue on our current path, warming will be ‘a catastrophic and unmanageable 10F over much of Earth’s habited and arable land.” The report also concludes that it is ‘virtually certain’ that human activities are responsible for this global warming. Read much more about this report here.
The World Bank is raising the red flag about global temperature increases above 4C (7F), saying that “we’re on track for a 4C warmer world marked by extreme heat waves, declining global food stocks, loss of ecosystems and biodiversity, and life-threatening sea level rise.” Food security is in doubt as temperatures rise, with crop yield reductions and extreme temperatures likely leading to shortages and hunger. What’s worse is that this 4C ‘danger zone’ is something that our current policies can’t even meet – we’ll overshoot that easily. Read more here.
The BBC reports that current CO2 emissions are too high to curb climate change, and are increasing, rather than decreasing as we need.
The Washington Post reports that, while there is a wide range of predictions from the various climate models, the National Center for Atmospheric Research is finding that warming is likely to be on the high side of predictions – not good, as it means we’ll substantially overshoot the target world leaders have agreed upon as the limit to avoid catastrophic consequences.
It’s basically all bleak news these days…but what makes it worse is that we have the technology and resources, right now, to make significant reductions in our CO2 emissions but we fail to act. Future generations will pay the price…and it doesn’t have to be this way.
2012 was the hottest year on record for the US
Not surprisingly, 2012 was the hottest year ever (in recorded history, since 1895) in the continental US. The 53.3F average temperature was 3.2 degrees above the average for the 20th century, and one degree above the previous high set in 1998.
Also interesting was that, while there were 362 all-time record highs set across the country, there were zero all time record lows recorded. 2012 also ranked as the driest year since 1998, and with 61% of the continental US in moderate to exceptional drought.
Read more in the USA Today or Washington Post. And let’s hope for a more average 2013…and the political and social willpower to end this crazy terraforming project we’re on before it’s too late.
The rise of ocean levels
Check out this chart (from phys.org)…while at first glance it shows the rise in ocean levels over the past twenty years, more importantly, it shows how when it comes to climate, you need to look at multi-year trends, not what’s happening in one particular year. This chart shows that ocean levels actually decreased in 2010-2011, and if you only looked at that fact, you might think that there’s no cause for alarm. However, look at the longer trend and you’ll see a very different story.
Oh, as for WHY the ocean levels dropped…that period coincided with a strong La Niña effect which temporarily shifted more than normal water from the ocean to the continents (via rainfall), a short-term effect that was canceled out once that water finished making its way back to the oceans.
Climate Change News
I’ve seen a number of interesting articles regarding climate change in the news lately, so figured I’d just sum them up in a single post. As always, follow the links for the full stories.
First, the World Bank has issued a report (PDF link) that finds a very high chance of hitting an average warming of 4°C by the end of this century…twice the international ‘goal’ of 2°C. The report goes into details of why this is bad, but chances are if you’re reading this you already believe it’s bad…what is significant here is that yet another scientific report is showing we’re making too little progress towards combating climate change, and are leaving a pretty messed up world for future generations. (full article at the Washington Post). It’s also worth noting that while the impacts of a 2°C rise have been studied quite a bit, the same scientific scrutiny has not been applied to a 4°C rise. They conclude that, “Given that uncertainty remains about the full nature and scale of impacts, there is also no certainty that adaptation to a 4°C world is possible.” Think about that.
Our neighbors in Canada are feeling a bit better about global warming, as it’s not expected to impact them as negatively (or other northern countries like Russia). (link) The warmer temperatures could even have some benefits…more tourism and increased food production, for example.
In Iowa, more than 130 scientists from Iowa colleges and universities have pointed out the obvious…that the bad drought they experienced this year is a predicted effect of global warming, and that we can and should expect more of the same (or worse) in coming years. (link) I wonder if this will lead to a mass exodus of people moving from the Midwest to Canada?
In light of the news that the US is on track to be a net exporter of energy by 2020, no longer dependent on foreign oil, the IEA warns that
No more that one-third of proven reserves of fossil fuels can be consumed prior to 2050 if the world is to achieve the 2°C goal.
By pursuing energy independence via increased domestic fossil fuel production, we’re also sealing the fate of future generations. (link)
Last, but most certainly not least, is that when you look at global average temperature, October 2012 was above average…but what’s most significant is that this was the 332nd consecutive month where the global average temperature has been at or above average. Remember, there are local variations – some parts of the world may be cooler, some hotter – but globally, the data indicates that this planet is warming up. (link)
I’d like to wrap up this post with advice for how we can stop this, but that’s a real tough one. I’m convinced that the only solution is to provide people with a clean energy alternative at a lower cost. More importantly, we need action fast…which means we need a dramatically lower cost, something that makes everyone rush to adopt this new technology. I’m not aware of any technologies that fit that requirement…and our country lacks the political will to implement change on a national level. Any ideas?
World CO2 emissions increasing
We’re doing a lousy job of fighting global warming, despite science giving us a pretty good understanding of the impacts continuing along this current path. Rather than cut emissions, global CO2 emissions in 2011 increased by 2.5% to a new record of 34 billion metric tons, according to Scientific American. It’s depressing that we can’t solve this problem…but the reality is, people are more worried about themselves than future generations. Or at least, that’ll be the case until those future generations grow up and realize who’s to blame for the mess they face.
Presidential Debates avoid climate change
It’s sad, but for the first time in 24 years, climate change wasn’t mentioned in the presidential debates. This is an issue of growing concern to our national security and well-being, yet it’s become so incredibly polarized and political in this country that we can’t even talk about it. That’s just plain wrong. We need to set aside the politics and look at the facts, for this is an issue that will be harder to deal with the longer we wait.
(more on this issue here)
UPDATE: The New York Times has a great article on this subject here, too.
Climate scientists got it wrong
Climate scientists screwed up. Predicting climate change is a tricky business, and as a result, there are many competing models that attempt to predict how global warming will impact our climate. When it comes to arctic sea ice, they were all wrong. Take a look at the graph here, showing actual arctic sea ice extent versus the various predictions. It turns out that the reality is far worse than any scientists were predicting, and this should scare you. These same models have been used to help convince people how we need to reduce CO2 emissions or face really bad consequences on a global scale…and yet…these models were too optimistic.
Think about that for a minute.
Scientists are even starting to call this a ‘planetary emergency‘. If you don’t know why you should care, then please, at least TRUST the scientists and experts in this field of study. The fact is, they know more than you do about this – and there’s no shame in that, it’s their job! Don’t listen to politicians and business experts who don’t understand climate change…either become an expert yourself, or defer to those who ARE experts. Just don’t let others interpret the results for you. Don’t let ME interpret the results for you – read for yourself what the scientists are saying and don’t let others influence you.