Global warming 'irreversible' for next 1000 years

[octagon]

A new study led by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):


Global warming 'irreversible' for next 1000 years: studyAgence France-Presse
Published: Tuesday January 27, 2009



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.

[cjj]

Ooh, this could get political in a hurry...

[leftyguitars]

In the north of England we can't grow grape vines like we did 200 years ago because it is so much colder here than it used to be, and this year snowdrops are coming up 3 weeks later than usual again because it is so much colder than it used to be. However, if I pay more tax all will be well again apparently!

[antipodean]

Hmmm..... if it's locked in, maybe I should dump my idea of the eco-car and get that twin-turbo six I've been dreamin of.... It'll come in handy if the world gets all Mad Maxesque....

[jimk]

Shoot! I smell MONEY. Now's the time to start buying up all that real estate up in the Yukon and Northwest Territories. That stuff is going to be prime agricultural property, while North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas are going to be deserts.

And just think of the archaeological possibilities in Antarctica! What is really beneath all that ice and snow? Could it be the Lost Continent of Atlantis! Ya think??

JimK

[beatlefreak]

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."

Does this mean we all have to hold our breath?

[antipodean]

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."

Does this mean we all have to hold our breath?

Yes, but only for the next 1000 years!

I'm told it's really easy after the first 5 minutes....

[wayang]

I knew Susan Solomon when we were both working in Antarctica...she's usually got a pretty good handle on this stuff, so I see no real reason to doubt her on this. Speaking of Antarctica...what's under all that ice? Rock, mostly...and a sh*tload of coal and uranium...just what we need! Yay, we're saved!!!

Technically, something changes every second on Earth that is 'irreversible'...yesterday, you saw a butterfly in your garden...today, it's dead. Can't reverse it...

Before everyone gets slap-happy about 'where the good land's going to be', remember that it's a pretty dynamic, interconnected system we live within. If the pine beetles that are eating all the trees up in the hills of Colorado (and who's nasty work and population are being accelerated by the gradually increasing temperature) find their way up to British Columbia (and why wouldn't they?), you might be fantasizing about a place that's going to resemble Saudi Arabia eventually.

But hey, y'know, lions and polar bears, tough luck for ya'll...make way for the real King of Beasts! We were smart enough to do something about our numbers and lifestyles, but: naahhhh.

[soundmasterg]

We should all plant more plants and trees and stop cutting them all down. It would certainly help.....

plus we could get more guitar tonewoods that way right?

Greg

[paologregorio]

There have been cold snaps for the past two Decembers here, so I say BRING IT ON!!! Besides, if So. Cal, a desert area, can be made this habitable, we'll adapt; it's not as if fertile and popluated areas are going to change to the Sahara overnight, whilst frigid areas will suddenly become agrarian paradises!

[brammy]

yawn.... anyone who STILL thinks the freekin polar bears are in danger has not been reading past the (intentionally) alarmist headlines.
http://newsbusters.org/node/11879

But hey kids, haven't you heard? Global Warming didn't work out as planned so what did they do? Change the name, thats what. "We" now call it "climate change". Why isn't that special. I've got some climate change for ya... its called winter spring summer fall. The earths climate has ALWAYS changed. What makes anyone think that today's climate is the best one? In fact, life in general has flourished when the average temp is warmer than it is today. Unfortunately for all of us, sun activity (or inactivity as the case may be) is apparently now pushing us toward a colder period. I know, I know.... how silly and simplistic of me to think that the sun could have any real effect on the earth's temperature. What a ridiculous notion. Hint: increased CO2 does not cause temp increase.... its the other way around. http://mises.org/story/2571

One of the few good things that came out of last year (in addition to victory in Iraq) was that the global warming scam finally became widely challenged.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sc ... al_warming
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/fe ... sensus.htm
http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/glo ... 051607.htm
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15938.html
http://chinaconfidential.blogspot.com/2 ... ut_10.html
http://personals.galaxyinternet.net/tunga/OSGWD.htm

Follow the money.

[longboard_ric]

Call it "Global Warming" or "Climate Change", it's still the same thing to me. It's a bit like calling Poker machines "Gaming Machines", anyway you look at it, it is gambling.

While the Earth's climate has always changed it's the rate of change this time 'round that should be of concern.

I've surfed all year round here for the last forty years, and have noticed a distinct change in the weather patterns here over the last ten years. And up until a few years ago, I never had to wear sunscreen while surfing on a sunny day in the middle of winter.

Either way , our pollies seem to have it sussed.......just introduce a new "Carbon Tax" and it will all be OK. Sure.

Oh yeah, in good old Melbourne it was 38C (100F) yesterday, today it will get to 41C (106F), and predictions for the next three days are 43C (109F), 40C and 40C (104F). And we are on the coast, if you go 100km north you can add another 3 C to those figures. I'm hoping for a seabreeze tonight !!!!

[cjj]

I've thought it rather interesting that all the stuff we're doing here on Earth, causing this global warming or climate change, has such a great effect on all the other planets too, weird...

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... rming.html
http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/glo ... 031307.htm
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080523.html

[johnallg]

Driving home in below zero temps at 42 degrees latitude and having over 100 inches of snow so far this winter (more tonight), way over average, I have little sympathy for this "assessment".

[melibreits]

Driving home in below zero temps at 42 degrees latitude and having over 100 inches of snow so far this winter (more tonight), way over average, I have little sympathy for this "assessment".

I agree with John.... Anyone who is worried about global warming just needs to come visit me in northern Minnesota for a couple of weeks in January....