Tag: global warming

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.

(via: link1, link2)

Arctic Ice Reaches New Minimum

Weeks ago, the extent of ice in the arctic had already reached record lows and was continuing to melt as we reported here.  Now, the melting has stopped (as expected for this time of year).  So, how bad was it?  According to the NY Times, the low point was about 1.32 million square miles, or 24 percent of the Arctic Ocean (the previous low was 29%, set back in 2007).  It used to be around 50% when satellite-based ice tracking began back in the 70’s.

The question is, what’s it going to take before people get serious about halting global warming?

Arctic Sea Ice Vanishing

It seems to me that every year or so for the past decade, I’d see a story in the news reporting on the minimum extent of arctic sea ice, comparing it to previous years, etc.  Sometimes it’d be reaching a new minimum, sometimes it’d be the second or third worst on history.  This usually occurs around late September or early October, when arctic sea ice usually hits its minimum for the year.  So, it’s too soon to be hearing doom and gloom about the arctic this year, right, since we’re still in August?

Nope.

As the graph above shows, we probably haven’t reached the 2012 arctic sea ice minimum point yet…but we have already set a new record for minimum sea ice extent in the arctic.  If historic trends prove true, we have another month of so of melting before we reach the actual minimum for this year.  2012 is, unfortunately, providing global evidence of the impact our species is having on this planet through CO2 emissions and global warming.  While the technology exists to halt this slide into oblivion, we so far lack the willpower to do something about it. On the contrary, the Republican party is in outright denial of the issue, and a very large percentage of Americans are blindly following along.

What will it take to convince people that preserving this awesome planet for future generations to enjoy is worth a bit of personal sacrifice?\

(via climatecrocks.com)

More bad news on the climate

More bad news on climate change…a prominent scientist in the UK (Sir Robert Watson) is now saying that the goal of a 2C global temperature rise is ‘largely out of the window’ and that 5C is a more realistic expectation.  This is bad…it’ll affect food and water supplies, not to mention increasing sea levels and population displacement.  This doesn’t have to be our fate…we have the technologies needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions dramatically, let’s us them!
Read more about this and what he has to say over at the BBC.

Are we past the point of ‘acceptable’ climate change?

Have we passed the point of ‘acceptable’ climate change, if there can be such a thing?  It’s a difficult question to answer, for climate is a complex system and our impact on it takes some time to realize.  More and more though, I’m hearing scientists speak up with concern about where we’re at now.  It would be easy to downplay that if our species was making significant progress towards reducing CO2 emissions to zero, but when you see those emissions increasing instead, you can’t help but be concerned.

The latest article I’ve found is in Scientific American, and basically talks about how the CURRENT levels of CO2 in the atmosphere are going to lead to really bad changes (‘catastrophic’ is the word used, but I like to remain at least a LITTLE optimistic…).  The scientifically agreed upon ‘goal’ for atmospheric CO2 concentration has been 350ppm (parts per million).  The problem is we’ve already passed that, currently sitting at about 390ppm with only increases in the forecast. (read more here)  The group 350.org is a great source to follow for more information about this goal, too.

The most frustrating part?  It doesn’t need to be like this.  We don’t need a revolution in technology to reduce our CO2 emissions dramatically (cutting CO2 to zero probably would require some radical new technology, but we can benefit a lot just by going after the low hanging fruit, so to speak).  The technologies already exist to provide most of our energy in clean forms…we just lack the political and social willpower to do anything about it.  Perhaps that can change…and it’s that hope that leads me to keep posting to this blog, in a perhaps futile attempt to influence others globally and enact change.

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