Not just ordinary climate change, but “abrupt” climate change capable of posing “clear risks to society in terms of our ability to adapt,” will happen during this century, according to a new report from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
By “abrupt,” USGS means drastic climatic changes that can happen rapidly -- over “decades or less” – and result in “substantial disruptions to human and natural systems.”
Highlights of the USGS report, Synthesis and Assessment Product 3.4: Abrupt Climate Change, (summary) predict:
- The 21st century will see a “rapid and sustained” loss of arctic sea ice.
- The already too-dry southwest U.S. may suffer “an abrupt period of increased drought.”
- The critical flow of warm water in the Atlantic Ocean is likely to decrease by 25-30 percent, but not collapse completely.
- An abrupt increase sea level, exacerbated by continued ice sheet melting, is possible, but difficult to predict.
The report, based on “published science literature,” was a collaborative effort of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Science Foundation at the request of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program.
"This report was truly a collaborative effort between world renowned scientists who provided objective, unbiased information that is necessary to develop effective adaptation and mitigation strategies that protect our livelihood," said USGS Director Mark Myers in a press release. "It summarizes the scientific community's growing understanding regarding the potential for abrupt climate changes and identifies areas for additional research to further improve climate models."
Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
Also See:
Climate Study Predicts Dire Events
Global Warming Inevitable This Century, NSF Study Finds
Fire and Ice: Melting Glaciers Trigger Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Volcanos
Comments
Yet there are still conservative operatives spouting either “there’s no climate change” or “global warming is good” lines. Fortunately, it appears that responsible Science is winning out.
Thank you for posting this to your site! It is wonderful to see interest in our research!
Jessica Robertson
U.S. Geological Survey
So in the worlds entire history we have had colder periods such as the ice age and warmer periods that have been recorded long before cars or heavy industry. Therefore I propose that you cannot prove man is creating climate change because to prove this you have to be at one extreme or the other to have any science that would have any true value you cannot deduct whatever you want out of anything that is in between either of these extremes because the climate changes with or without man and that is a very basic fact and to try to apply speculated observation as fact is clearly as silly as trying to prove that God is real.ONCE YOU CAN DO THAT,THEN YOU COULD HOLD CLOUT IN THE REAL WORLD! WAKE UP WORLD ITS TIME TO SEE PAST ALL THE INSANITY! CLIMATE CHANGE IS NATURAL AND UNTIL WE HIT THE HOTEST PERIOD IN THE ENTIRE EARTHS HISTORY… YOU CAN’T PROVE THAT MAN IS FURTHER HEATING IT UP… THE SAME GOES FOR COOLING WE WOULD HAVE TO BE IN A ICE AGE AND THEN PROVE GREENHOUSE GASES MAKE IT COLDER FROM THAT POINT ALONE ANYTHING ELSE CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AND MUST BE REJECTED!