Climate Change - a poll

[Rubbersoul]

23 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

It's a fair question as there are plenty of lines put out by the climate denial brigade that it's just another example of what has always happened. 

 

You're right, climate does change, and that change happens over eons. It's a gradual process. What's different here is firstly the change is demonstrably caused by humanity, it's not part of a natural cycle (obviously those cycles continue underneath but the warming being seen is way beyond that). 

 

Second, the pace of change is hugely faster. We're potentially on course to go from where we were to literally unliveable pretty much within a century. No creature can out evolve change at that speed. Obviously the earth would survive, some creatures would survive, some plants might enjoy the extra CO2, but humanity will find things pretty tough. 

 

The way it impacts the globe isn't constant and consistent everywhere. We're a rapidly spinning ball with a thick atmosphere, warmth means energy, if you think back to science class, so there's more energy in weather systems. That means hotter hots, it means stronger evaporation and cloud formatioms, it means heavier rain, stronger winds, bigger floods, highest sea levels.... All of which we're already seeing.

 

We've already had China experience months of constant 40°+ temps. Pakistan had an area the size of Britain flooded. The glacial collapse and flooded destruction in Nepal was akin to Pompeii only with water. Loads of other examples of hugely out of the ordinary weather events. Britain has had things very mild but still hit 40° there other year which was basically Impossible before. 

 

Humanity would survive. But it would not all survive. There'd be areas of the world which would become like 3/4s of Australia now - pretty much unsurvivable at scale. There'll be societal breakdown. At higher temperatures there'll be huge death tolls. Crops are already failing, it'll get worse. I'm afraid the picture is awful without immediate action. 

 

It's the pace of change which is different. It's the fact humanity has never lived at those temperatures. And there's evidence for it all, including what we could do (and should already have done) about it. 

 

27 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

There are no uneducated questions when someone is asking in good faith, which you clearly are. 

 

The answer is that while there have been more drastic shifts in terms of amount of temperature and atmospheric composition change in the past (most notably for the "big Five" extinction events), the speed of change at the present time is faster than practically any event up to now. 

 

If you have any more specific questions about comparisons with the past on this one, I'd be happy to answer. 

Appreciate the responses guys. I have learnt something new today! 

 

It’s the argument I always see pop up with this subject. The Earth has always changed so what’s happening now is nothing new, which I guess for many is easier to live with. 
 

 

[leicsmac]

32 minutes ago, Rubbersoul said:

 

Appreciate the responses guys. I have learnt something new today! 

 

It’s the argument I always see pop up with this subject. The Earth has always changed so what’s happening now is nothing new, which I guess for many is easier to live with. 
 

 

To which the rather obvious response is to point out the speed of change, and also that living in a situation where such changes are happening at a speed that isn't known outside previous extinction events might not be a good thing.