| Global Warming Quicker Than Forecast |
| Written by Paul Roth | |
| Monday, 05 October 2009 | |
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An increasing number of validated scientific papers, published since the last IPCC Assessment Report in 2007, shows that climate change is happening now, and that it is speedier than suggested only 2 years ago.
An increasing number of validated scientific papers, published since the last IPCC Assessment Report in 2007, shows that climate change is happening now, and that it is speedier than suggested only 2 years ago. The evidence for this statement is from a multitude of areas. Some of the regions currently undergoing change are shown below. -Multiple plants and animals, in widespread sites, are already showing evidence of climate change. Examples include the timing of plant flowering, animal breeding, and lake thawing. -Warmer ocean surface temperatures in Pacific & Atlantic hurricane-formation zones leading to stronger storms are significantly linked to human-induced warming. -Ocean acidification is happening rapidly, as a result of CO2 in large amounts being dissolved in sea water. This will have massive changes on marine ecosystems and also food security for many nations. -Expected sea-level elevation over the next few decades will be greater than that predicted in 2007. It will probably increase a metre or more, according to recently published research. -Rapid melting of Greenland's glaciers, which began in 2004, is conclusively due to the greenhouse effect. -West Antarctica's Ice Shelf is undergoing accelerated melting during the last decade and has witnessed ten major ice-shelf collapses in that period of time. -Northern polar sea-ice is melting much quicker than previously estimated, and it is likely that the Arctic will be free of ice in summer within a few decades. -Permafrost in the Arctic Circle is thawing much quicker than recently thought, and is releasing larger amounts of greenhouse gases than predicted. The warming that is now taking place is expected to go on for many centuries, after all human-sourced CO2 escape ceases. This is due to the significant delays that exist in the climate-ocean system, as well as the long half-life of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The Article Author: Learn more at the planet's greatest climate change blog, or learn more about accelerated sea level rise. |
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