On the Train Wreck Ahead.

A new study (1) just published adds more information to the growing body of SCIENCE that predicts rapid and disastrous climate change in the near future. The aspect of this study that is alarming is the reevaluation of data and the conclusion that global temperatures might rise as high as 6 degrees C in the next century. That is a number that is really scary. The reason? Simple. The amount of CO2 going into the atmosphere. Even the most modest models of atmospheric CO2 show a continuing increase for the next 50 -75 years, and this modest amount is enough trigger climate disaster.
This has happened before. But not this fast. That is the wildcard in the mix this time around. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the world has been pouring fossil CO2 into the atmosphere at ever increasing rates. Fossil CO2 is a carbon source that has been trapped in the earth for millions of years. It would probably slowly leach out, slowly increasing the atmospheric levels. But we are releasing it by the megaton by burning coal, oil and natural gas. Never since the origin of the earth has this much carbon been put into the atmosphere so quickly. The results are 100% predictable. Atmospheric temperature increase.
Let the tea party have their way and deregulate industry so they can add more carbon to the air. It won’t matter. Let the Third World keep adding to the carbon load in the atmosphere. It won’t matter. We have already, as so elegantly stated in “The Phantom of the Opera”, passed the point of no return.
Image: www. freshtronic.com
(1) http://www.ajsonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/311/1/1
Video of real train wreck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBhQhKWOZmk