It may be nine months before the main event, but leading climate scientists are meeting in Copenhagen to discuss the latest scientific research and developments. The findings will be used to inform the politicians when they meet at the crucial meeting in December. But on the eve of this month’s conference, two leading British climate … Read More
climate change impacts
The Marathon of the Penguins
“The March of the Penguins” made Warner Brothers millions, but maybe the film giant should do a sequel called “The Marathon of the Penguins”. Latest scientific research shows that penguins from the largest colony in mainland South America are being forced to swim the equivalent of two marathons farther to find food because of climate … Read More
Scientists Meet to “Influence Policy” on Climate
One of the questions on Australia’s mind this week-end has been whether the intensity of the wild fires devastating large parts of Victoria is linked to climate change. The nightmare is that the scenes of total devastation they are witnessing are a sign of things to come in a warming world. There are those are … Read More
Oz: “Heatwave shows climate scientists are right”, says Minister
The Northern hemisphere may be suffering from one of its coldest winters on record, with deep snow falls and ice blizzards, but Australia has been gripped by its worst drought in a century. And the blistering heat which has scorched southern Australia proves the accuracy of warnings by scientists, according to the country’s Climate Change … Read More
Climate Change is “Irreversible”
A US government-sponsored report has warned that many effects of climate change are already irreversible. Even if carbon emissions were somehow stopped now, global temperatures could remain high for 1,000 years, concluded the scientists. The report, sponsored by the US Department of Energy, appears in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Another “Warning Bell” for Obama
Here is the second new piece of scientific evidence in two days that President Obama should take notice off. The first was news of warming in Antarctica, but today’s news is much closer to home. The majestic old-growth forests of western North America that stretch from Arizona to British Columbia are more vulnerable to climate … Read More
New Evidence that Antarctica is Warming
As President Obama ploughs through his troublesome large in tray, his inaugural promise to “restore science to its rightful place” could be ringing in his ears with an added sense of urgency. One of his scientific advisors should show him a picture of Antarctica that has just been published that shows a red streak down … Read More
Sea Absorbs Less CO2 Due to Climate Change
For a while scientists have been warning that as the oceans warm up their ability to absorb carbon diminishes. Now new research from the Sea of Japan will heighten fears that the Earth is rapidly slowing down in its natural ability to absorb man-made CO2. Scientists found that there had been a sudden and dramatic … Read More
Sea-Level Rise to “Substantially Exceed” Projections
Continuing the theme of volatile trends, yesterday’s news was that the Arctic was melting much faster than previously predicted. Today’s news, not surprisingly, is that sea level rise will “substantially exceed” previous estimates. The latest estimates are that it could rise 150 cm this Century.
Arctic “passes point of no return”
Yesterday on the blog I noted that “what was deemed impossible just months ago now seems highly probable or even normal”. OK, I was talking about the financial chaos and the volatile oil price, but the same could be said of climate change.