Is Global Warming happening alot faster than anyone realizes?

Question

seems like every new report that comes out says "Greenland melting faster than ever thought possible" or "Ice at poles will be completely gone in 30 years" or even "third of all species will be extinct in 50 years"

Answer 1

We are already dead we just don't know it yet

Answer 2

Allow me if you will to give you the actual facts. Climatology is after all my job and something I've been doing for 24 years - I don't get my info from websites, the media, Al Gore, the movies etc.

Global warming is not happening a lot faster than anyone realises, but it is happening somewhat faster than many people realise.

There are certain aspects that are happening faster, others are slower - this is to be expected, climatology is after all a young science and we're operating in unchartered territory. Overall global warming is occurring *somewhat* faster than had been previously thought.

One important thing to note - the scientists know more about global warming and it's implications than many people realise, what they want to say and what they have been allowed to say are somewhat different. In some key areas their reports have been watered down, largely at the behest of the Bush Administration. Now that the Administration openly acknowledges the reality of global warming this is a practice that has become less prevelant, consequently future reports are likely to be more representative of the scientific findings.

Next month the IPCC will publish another report (Fourth Assessment Report, Working Group 3, Mitigation of Climate Change), it will be online before the published report is available. The report will state that the average global temp is rising faster than previously published - about 10% faster, and although outwith it's immediate remit it will highlight other areas of accelerated climate change.

Turning to the points you mentioned - Greenland is melting faster than expected but not faster than ever thought possible, that kind of implies a worst case scenario which isn't what we're seeing.

Based on observations over the last 30 years it now seems probable that by 2050 the Arctic ice will melt completely each summer. Until a few years ago it had been thought that the Arctic ice would be a permenant feature for another 100 years.

This last season saw unprecedented melting of the Arctic ice sheet, at no time has it ever been known to have receded as much as it did this last year. If the same net loss of ice is repeated each year from now on, then the Arctic ice would be gone in 23 years. It is possible, although it seems unlikely at this stage, that the Arctic ice could melt completely in 23 or 30 years. 40 years seems more probable.

Antarctica is a very different proposition. It is melting but not as fast as Greenland or the Arctic. The net loss of ice was 82 cubic kilometres last year, if it kept melting at the same rate it would last for many thousands of years. The rate of melting is increasing but all the same, Antarctica is so vast and the ice so thick, that it will be a very long time before it all melts.

It is possible that a third of all species could be extinct within 50 years. Several different studies have been conducted, the results vary but they all paint a bleak picture for the future. Estimates vary between 20% and 40% of species becoming extinct within the next 50 to 100 years.

Answer 3

Allright, here are the facts about Greenland.
1. The glacier ice is melting at the rate of one CUBIC MILE per week.
2. This is twice the rate that was calculated two or three years ago.
3. What caused this increase and what are the effects if it continues to INCREASE EVEN FURTHER?

The cause for the increase is complex but consider the consequences and see if it is worth your time and effort.

When most of the ice melts, the oceans level will be 20 to 23 feet higher. So, why is the ice melting so much faster?

To melt ice, or anything with a fixed area exposed to heat, the temperature Difference must increase by an equal factor, the temperature Difference must double, like it did.
But, the temperature on the surface of the Danish glaciers is only slightly above the ice melting temperature.
And, that is the clue!
If the temperature difference between the ice and the air immediately above, is very small,
the amount of heat in the air (set by its temperature) need only increase an small amount for the temperature difference to double.
Such an small temperature increase is, now, more likely to increase than it was, because the Arctic lost one million square miles of ice this summer, more than last year.
That means the ocean water was heated directly by the sun over One Million Square Miles more than it was previously.

Note: There is no possibility of a cooling source or a cooling effect by anything in the North Pole, other than the expected tilting of the axis that will bring most, but not all, the ice floes lost this summer by spring time.
In short, there is no reason to believe the rate of heating at the surface of ice over Greenland will go down.
And, the data shows a doubling in the melting rate.
Therefore, the trend is that at least an equal increase in the melting AMOUNT can be expected, not an equal increase in the melting RATE in Greenland. The amount will be greater but not double that of this year.

So what? Do you know what a 6 foot increase in the ocean level would do to Florida, San Francisco Bay Area, etc.
For example, two of the three major airports in the Bay Area, SFO and Oakland will be at risk, easily protected as soon as this is evident. We may have five years to get ready.

Maybe the bay area rapid transit train (BART), that serves SFO and OAK airports, already, could be extended to San Jose's Mineta International Airport in time to provide some alternatives when needed.
But, it may be too late already,
This BART extension would take 8 years to construct, if they started today, and they are years away from starting.
Is this unusual or expected?
I believe, there will not be significant changes until we have a major catastrophe, like another Katrina, .....or worse.

Whatever climate change is evident in your local area, you may expect a similar, or greater, change by next year but, this applieas more closely to the heating side, the greater energy in the atmosphere will also bring stronger winds that may cool some areas. Last year, a Pacific storm wind was clocked at 190 mph.

Answer 4

I think you mean this: does anyone really care that other people are caring? There are an indefinite number of people in the world who are definitely environmentally-conscious. I am one of them and am a dedicated greenectionist. However, there are just certain people (namely politicians) who just don't care that other people care. Like, pretend you own this huge wine factory that makes this great-tasting wine and look at that! you're making so much money every year, you think its a big success. But in reality, your wine factory pollutes. And you don't care. Actually, the pollution that causes global warming isn't even going to affect your generation. And when it does, you're going to be dead. So who cares, right? But seriously. Of course Al Gore cares. (don't get me started). Everyone thinks Al Gore just uses his environmental - consciousness for political gain. But why would he go through all the trouble of writing a book and getting it edited, and making a huge powerpoint presentation to show thousands of people, to film a documentary, etc, etc, etc. Deep down, I believe Al Gore has at least A LITTLE bit of feeling for the environment, even if he did use it for political gain. (And if the idiots had voted for him, maybe people would care that other people care about global warming. But that's another argument) The truth is, some people sacrifice their lifestyles for the environment. I am living proof. I'm sixteen years old, I don't have a phone, I don't have a laptop, an iPod, I rarely call my friends, I shower in cold water (ok fine, lukewarm), I recycle every week, Earth Day is my favorite holiday. I truly believe there are people out there who care about global warming, but are simply not getting enough support. You're right. It may be too late. But unless we do some extreme environmental-approvement starting ASAP, it WILL be too late.

Answer 5

It appears that global warming has slowed for the last few years, if not stopped. Only time will tell if things keep warming or the cooling trend continues. We are currently at the weakest point of the 11 year solar cycle, that could be the reason the warming has stopped or it could be the beginning of a cooling phase.

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/2006/ann/msu2006-pg.gif

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Answer 6

Yes
We must seriously worry when our earth is changing so rapidly.
10 or 25 years seems a lot compared to our lives, we may get married, move, die, etc but compared to the history of the earth 10 or 25 years is nothing
Its just so fast, lightning fast
We seem to have caused a lot of damage to the earth and this is the kind of thing that will take forever to damp, it's maybe too late to fix. We must reduce our emissions as much as we can

Answer 7

Yes it is very true, I believe what the prophecys say and the end of times is near. Global warming in lost to many people have poluted are world in every country. ever ocean, lakes and streams, our reafs are destroyed . all the oceans work together as a conver belt. but, due to glaciers melting , flooding from lakes and streams draining in to our oceans has caused to much fresh water into our salt waters. And that's like oil ontop of water then there goes are ocean life, marine life and most important our reafs life. this world can not live without our reaf.

Answer 8

Think about this. When you are sick your body is giving you a physical sign that you are not well and it needs to improve. The earth is the same way. Things should be in balance for the plants and animals to coexist. The signs are there if you want to see it.

The rate of global warming depends on each of us. I believe thinking green is one answer. Bringing live plants indoors to improve the indoor air, might save this planet if the outdoor plants begin to die. What is really replacing the oxygen we are breathing?

Answer 9

We have been hearing this NONSENSE for over 50 years and it has not happened--any of it. It makes sensational press clippings, and makes the press want Al Gore to run for President, but that's about all. There are several towns in California that just put in for Federal Aid because the temperature was too COOL to properly support their citrus crops. So much for global WARMING.

Answer 10

Don't read more than is enough to empower you. Act for the future. The things you and I need to do are the same as they were yesterday. It's about our everyday actions being the right ones and those actions also persuading government to follow our lead.
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Answer 11

Honestly, I think it is happening as it should given the population of the earth and other factors. It is alarming, however, I think the studies poured into the research didn't take into account many factors at the time, therefore, producing the flawed result we see today.