STUDY: Earth May Be Doomed

firefighting helicopterA firefighting helicopter makes a water drop as the sun sets over a ridge burning near Redding, Calif., in efforts against the Carr Fire. Scorching heat, winds and dry conditions complicated firefighting efforts. (Hector Amezcua/The Sacramento Bee via AP)

An international climate study sponsored by Germany, Sweden, Denmark & Australia has come to a grim conclusion: Even if reduced levels of greenhouse gas emissions are reached & global warming increases are kept to a maximum 2 degrees Celsius, the earth’s climate may still experience run-away heating within 10 years.

 

The study is published by the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and indicates that global temperatures may end up stabilizing at 4 or 5 degrees (Celsius) higher than the earth’s pre-industrial temperatures; raising sea levels possibly 10 to 60 meters above current levels.

FEEDBACK TRIGGERS
Will Steffen, study author & climate researcher at the Australian National University and the Stockholm Resilience Center gave comment upon the study findings, saying “Human emissions of greenhouse gas are not the sole determinant of temperatures on the Earth.’ –

“Our study suggests that human-induced global warming of 2 degrees Celsius may trigger other Earth system processes, often called ‘feedbacks,’ that can drive further warming; even if we stop emitting greenhouse gases after that point,” said Steffen.

The study surmises that humanity must transition to a ‘green’ economy of reduced green-house gases much sooner and quicker than previously estimated to avoid a catastrophic cascading effect of ever-climbing temperatures.

60-METER SEAS
The study also concludes that if the polar ice caps continue to melt at their current rate,that if wide-spread deforestation upon the planet continues, and that if the emission of greenhouse-gases continues to increase, the earth may soon reach a tipping point where temperatures are 5 degrees Celsius warmer than today & sea levels up to 60 meters above current levels would be the new normal.

The study estimates that without immediate action; perhaps only 10 years remain before any attempt to lower the earth’s temperature would become futile.

CRITICAL REPLY
Scientists critical of climate change gave objection to the PNAS report; saying that the potential climate scenario reported by the PNAS study is, at best, somewhat
speculative.

Nonetheless, these same critics admit that the PNAS study scenario of run-away climate change fed by man-made & natural green-house gases is plausible and not without merit.

 

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