Global Warming

The current global temperatures are rising, but this is not a cause for concern in itself as in the past life of this planet global temperatures have been both considerably higher and considerably lower than they are at present.

Part of the current concern is the atmosphere and how its changing constituents are affecting the global temperature. The rise in levels of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere has been unprecedented since the onset of the Industrial Revolution, and the primary concern is that this is the single largest contributory factor in current global temperature change. Hence the bid to reduce emissions of CO2.

The biggest problem we face is that this unprecedented change means we need to make predictions and calculated guesses about the course of events – and most of the conclusions reached are not encouraging.

CO2 is not the only greenhouse gas – a vastly more efficient greenhouse gas is methane, a hydrocarbon that is produced by the breakdown of organic matter. There are large reserves of both methane and CO2 residing at the bottoms of some of the coldest oceans, where the high pressures and low temperatures hold these reserves in a fairly stable and static place. Increasing temperatures, with the resulting shift in ocean currents and climatic patterns, are seen as potentially threatening the stability of these gas hydrates. Should they choose to surface, the result could be a vast release of further greenhouse gases and the instigation of a vicious cycle of heating and hydrate release.

We are all aware of the predicted affect on the polar ice caps, as well as other ice caps, of global warming. The face of the globe would be radically altered with a rapid and major shift in human (and other animal) population distribution occurring. The resulting move to higher ground will not only disrupt communities but agricultural production will be severely disrupted. The question as to how fast this will happen is crucial.

It has all happened before though. Global temperatures have soared, greenhouse gases have been poured into the atmosphere through vast and continuing volcanic eruptions, sea level has both risen and fallen.  In the history of life on earth there have been tremendous changes in climate, and several major extinctions. Each time new species have evolved suited to the climate which existed at the time. 

So the fact remains:  we are not trying to save the planet, although that is the message often promulgated. It is, in fact, the human race that is at risk.