Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, humans have since the mid-20th century had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and have caused change on a global scale.The largest driver of warming is the emission of gases that create a greenhouse effect, of which more than 90% are carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane. Fossil fuel burning (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy consumption is the main source of these emissions, with additional contributions from agriculture, deforestation, and manufacturing. The human cause of climate change is not disputed by any scientific body of national or international standing. Temperature rise is accelerated or tempered by climate feedbacks, such as loss of sunlight-reflecting snow and ice cover, increased water vapour (a greenhouse gas itself), and changes to land and ocean carbon sinks.
Temperature rise on land is about twice the global average increase, leading to desert expansion and more common heat waves and wildfires. Temperature rise is also amplified in the Arctic, where it has contributed to melting permafrost, glacial retreat and sea ice loss. Warmer temperatures are increasing rates of evaporation, causing more intense storms and weather extremes. Impacts on ecosystems include the relocation or extinction of many species as their environment changes, most immediately in coral reefs, mountains, and the Arctic. Climate change threatens people with food insecurity, water scarcity, flooding, infectious diseases, extreme heat, economic losses, and displacement. These impacts have led the World Health Organization to call climate change the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century. Even if efforts to minimise future warming are successful, some effects will continue for centuries, including rising sea levels, rising ocean temperatures, and ocean acidification.
Many of these impacts are already felt at the current level of warming, which is about 1.2 °C (2.2 °F). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued a series of reports that project significant increases in these impacts as warming continues to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) and beyond. Additional warming also increases the risk of triggering critical thresholds called tipping points. Responding to climate change involves mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation – limiting climate change – consists of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and removing them from the atmosphere; methods include the development and deployment of low-carbon energy sources such as wind and solar, a phase-out of coal, enhanced energy efficiency, reforestation, and forest preservation. Adaptation consists of adjusting to actual or expected climate, such as through improved coastline protection, better disaster management, assisted colonisation, and the development of more resistant crops. Adaptation alone cannot avert the risk of "severe, widespread and irreversible" impacts.Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, nations collectively agreed to keep warming "well under 2.0 °C (3.6 °F)" through mitigation efforts. However, with pledges made under the Agreement, global warming would still reach about 2.8 °C (5.0 °F) by the end of the century. Limiting warming to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) would require halving emissions by 2030 and achieving near-zero emissions by 2050.
We are all doomed, if climate change does not get us, some thing will impact the Earth and kill us, will some one get it right ,the suspense is killing me.
says who?
http://www.liberal-international.org/editorial.asp?ia_id=1451
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20070502&articleId=5543
What is the world coming to if the climate deniers call themselfs "the World Federation of Scientists"? :devil:
Is it the Earth's wobble that is responsible for all of our global warming debates?! Can it be completely ruled out as a major contributor?
http://www.physorg.com/news79791441.html
Organizing a critical climate review in Stockholm has been compared to organizing a meeting of capitalists on the Red Square of Communist Moscow, but I think that's greatly exagarated
http://gamma.physchem.kth.se/~climate/
Never mind but perhaps browse around a bit and perhaps consider...
A new hypothesis for global warming
Introduction
The current climate change/global warming debate has become highly political, with some people maintaining that the warming over the last 150 years is due to the enhanced greenhouse effect caused by anthropogenic emission of carbon dioxide and...
There is a lot of debate going on in the media and on forums like these as to whether or not anthropogenic global warming is real.
Here is a link to an article in the AAAS Science Magazine that states there is no disagreement between climate scientists as to the consensus, not majority or...
Summary for Intellectuals
It’s a dedicated duty for mankind to preserve the habitability of the Earth for future generations. Earth- and environmental scienctists are the observers and analysts for policymakers to decide the best course of action. But the mysteries of Earth are exceptional...
Did a catastrophic change in the climate bring about the dark ages?
In the year 535-536 Byzantine historian Procopius recorded,
"the sun gave forth light without brightness".
Tree ring analysis show abnormally little growth in irish oak in 536
and another sharp drop in 542...
The insatiable greed for profit is leading to who knows what disasters. While everyone focuses on the latest bout of terrorism (which is a reaction to a cycle of acts of terrorism that are bound to increase), this is what the scientists are saying:
The following statement calling for the...
I'm not sure if this is correct spot for analysing the logic in the climate change discussion. But it's about logic and not about global warming. So we give it a shot.
Let's meet Stephen Schneider
I will not comment here, that would be risking poisoning the well. Only notice that SS is a...
I am looking to learn about the major flaws with our current theories and data on climate change, particularly in terms of the ice ages. Any examples of inconsistencies or problems with data, or any other information you could give me would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Matt.
I guess I just beat Ivan by posting this.
The abstract is http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nature/journal/v432/n7015/abs/432290a_fs.html.
Sounds like water is boiling at o degrees Celsius.
Some background on
urban heat island effect. (All not true anymore?!)...
Although we see threads starting supporting Green House Gas global warming, we tend to overlook the publications that counter them.
Here is one from May (almost overlooked):
and some remarks in the conclusion:
Translation: there is a high correlation between global temperatures and...
"No doubt": Human Activity Affecting Global Climate Change
An interesting link that I had tucked away.
http://globalchange.gov/
Here is one story from the link.
http://globalchange.gov/