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Too Late to Stop Global Warming
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:11 pm
by Tsukiyumi
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Climate change is "largely irreversible" for the next 1,000 years even if carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions could be abruptly halted, according to a new study led by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The study's authors said there was "no going back" after the report showed that changes in surface temperature, rainfall and sea level are "largely irreversible for more than 1,000 years after CO2 emissions are completely stopped."
NOAA senior scientist Susan Solomon said the study, published in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, showed that current human choices on carbon dioxide emissions are set to "irreversibly change the planet."
Researchers examined the consequences of CO2 building up beyond present-day concentrations of 385 parts per million, and then completely stopping emissions after the peak. Before the industrial age CO2 in Earth's atmosphere amounted to only 280 parts per million.
The study found that CO2 levels are irreversibly impacting climate change, which will contribute to global sea level rise and rainfall changes in certain regions.
The authors emphasized that increases in CO2 that occur from 2000 to 2100 are set to "lock in" a sea level rise over the next 1,000 years.
Rising sea levels would cause "irreversible commitments to future changes in the geography of the Earth, since many coastal and island features would ultimately become submerged," the study said.
Decreases in rainfall that last for centuries can be expected to have a range of impacts, said the authors. Regional impacts include -- but are not limited to -- decreased human water supplies, increased fire frequency, ecosystem change and expanded deserts.
Source
Dang. I wanted to live on an island.
Re: Too Late to Stop Global Warming
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:48 pm
by Deepcrush
Hmmm, nice too know things are going so well.
Re: Too Late to Stop Global Warming
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 4:12 pm
by Sonic Glitch
Don't worry, 3 years and its all over.
Re: Too Late to Stop Global Warming
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 4:34 pm
by Sionnach Glic
No surprises here. It wasn't as if reducing the amount of crap we're throwing into the air would cause the environment to magicaly spring back into shape.
Re: Too Late to Stop Global Warming
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 4:36 pm
by Reliant121
I'm not massively concerned. I'll be dead. And I don't intend to leave any lasting Wateridge's behind on my side.
Re: Too Late to Stop Global Warming
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 4:58 pm
by Deepcrush
So nice of you too care about your children or your friends children.
Re: Too Late to Stop Global Warming
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:40 pm
by shran
i hope not a large lot of companies hear this. hey may see it as an excuse for ceasing to cut back their emissions.
Re: Too Late to Stop Global Warming
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:45 pm
by Tsukiyumi
shran wrote:i hope not a large lot of companies hear this. hey may see it as an excuse for ceasing to cut back their emissions.
Right.
CEO: "Well, if it's too late anyways, why should we cut into our profit margins?"
Which, in my world, would be promptly followed by:
*bang*
*thud*
Me: "Okay, so what does the
new CEO think?"
Re: Too Late to Stop Global Warming
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:59 pm
by Lazar
I've read that
climate scientists are becoming pessimistic about the prospects for curbing climate change with emissions restrictions, and that they're increasingly starting to consider "geoengineering" schemes as a last resort - big manmade projects to actively cool the planet.
Re: Too Late to Stop Global Warming
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:01 pm
by Mark
Nice to know that we are already doomed. Very liberating. Now, what's for lunch?
Re: Too Late to Stop Global Warming
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:19 pm
by Tsukiyumi
Mark wrote:Nice to know that we are already doomed. Very liberating. Now, what's for lunch?
Why, endangered condor egg omelets, of course.
Re: Too Late to Stop Global Warming
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:32 pm
by Lazar
The dinosaurs would be like, "Tough titties."
Re: Too Late to Stop Global Warming
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:28 pm
by Reliant121
Deepcrush wrote:So nice of you too care about your children or your friends children.
I'll make no mistake, I am somewhat selfish. But, as far as I can tell, little of what I do (and I do try, mind you) will have any effect whatsoever.
And I don't intend on having children. Nor am I capable.
Re: Too Late to Stop Global Warming
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:30 pm
by Tsukiyumi
Reliant121 wrote:...Nor am I capable.
Do you mean you're not
willing, or am I reading too much into that?
There's always in vitro, you know.
Re: Too Late to Stop Global Warming
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:31 pm
by Reliant121
Tsukiyumi wrote:Reliant121 wrote:...Nor am I capable.
Do you mean you're not
willing, or am I reading too much into that?
There's always in vitro, you know.
Almost not willing. But, I have a relatively strange hatred of small children. One of our teachers brought her baby in to school recently, and You have no idea how uncomfortable i was being near it. I dont know why. I simply despise, with every fibre that i have, small children.