The
Rate of Climate Change: Humanity's Blind Gamble
by
Kim Glanville
"Mankind
is asleep in the cradle of infancy, lulled by stupefying illusions"
......Mary
Baker Eddy
While
many may acknowledge that climate change is for real, few believe that
their own lives will be affected by it. Computer projections based
on continued warming are not programmed to track the overall EFFECTS of
warming as it changes the global climatic patterns. If data from
previous warm inter-glacial periods were entered into those programs, it
would be seen that the warming, by a coldly logical method of deduction,
portends an inversion of the warming. This inversion, or reversion
to colder climate, may be suggested in the following points.
1)
We are already at the tail end of the warm inter-glacial period.
The warm (and cold) periods have been getting shorter over several ice
ages. We're already about 2500 years past the length of the last
warm period.
2)
Studies of the air locked in ice from as far back as 400,000 years reveal
that there is a NATURAL increase of CO2 prior to the onset of each new
ice age. Some argue that humanitys "contribution" of CO2, (a billion
metric tons annually by the end of WW2, and 7 billion by the end
of 2000) is not a factor. However, the balance is held in just the
top few percentile points of CO2 mass, with which we are certainly tinkering.
Once warming is established, it begins an accelerating pace, with greater
and greater amounts of tropical evaporation from the oceans. This is followed
by a corresponding increase in winds, cloud cover, severity of conditions,
and ultimately, a speeded up earth-climate system with huge amounts of
water being transported to the poles. Even El Nino and La Nina
are just smaller components of this greater whole.
Additionally,
the melting of the old glaciers and permafrost contribute increasingly
to the CO2 (and Methane gas) content in the atmosphere. (Recent studies
discovered the high content of CO2 held in glacial mass)
3)
While it does take thousands of years for ice to work its way down the
continents, studies indicate that a very rapid transition period brings
a dramatic increase in summer-freeze-ups, fiercely harsher winters, and
increased cloud cover, not
to
mention severity and frequency of ruinous storms, and paradoxically, drastic
droughts in other areas. Food crop production could drop off rapidly
in a matter of a few years, not decades.
4)
As cloud cover world-wide increases, sunlight is increasingly reflected
back into space. Gradually the rain and cloud cover descends into a more
continuous and widespread phenomenon. By that time, much of the earth
becomes utterly
inhospitable,
growing crops becomes impossible, and whereas our more primitive forbears
could migrate towards the tropics, much of modern humanity could face unprecedented
difficulties.
5)
It is nearly impossible not to have noticed the greater frequency of devastating
forest fires in many areas of the world. Many forests are drought-weakened
and soil-depleted, and increases of electrical storm activity contribute
to the greater
fire
numbers, which of course additionally flood huge quantities of CO2 into
the atmosphere.
6)
The time-frame for these more-than-potential changes is coalescing.
All I would ask of ANYONE as regards these phenomena is that they turn
their attention to what the earth is herself telling us. Watch
patterns, study, listen, exchange ideas, employ the internet.
It
is ultimately the oceans, their waters, which end up being the key
player in massive climatic and geographic upheaval. If enough of
us begin to realize, through personal study, the scope of this situation,
we may then be able to collectively actuate productive, greening work efforts.
These can logically take their place within a new ecomomy based on earth
and species-saving initiatives, more properly called
SURVIVAL
TACTICS.. They are valid, and their time has come.They can succeed, be
beneficial, AND generate jobs and revenue.
For
earth, and for her inhabitants, "Justice has become a biological necessity."
( I request that anyone knowing the source of the last sentence-quotation
please advise me of author's name, so that his/her quotation can be credited)
Humanity
marches on, as oblivious to this great potential danger as was Chamberlain
to the evil designs of Hitler..............
Sources;
Video-Bibliography
1)
What's Up With the Weather? (A combined Frontline -Nova Investigative
Special Report, 2 hrs. 2001?)
2)
Bill Moyer's "Earth on Edge", 2-hour documentary, PBS
3)
National Geographic, Sept. "04: Special Climate Change Issue.
4)
* Stopping the Coming Ice Age, Berkeley Univ. Calif. 1986,*
featuring the theories of John Hamaker
5)
Tyrell Museum, Drumheller.
6)
Time Magazine, August, 2004
September,
2004
Copyright:
Kim Glanville
*This
video is the same one that inspired Sting to devote a year to a book and
film about the importamce of the Amazon Rainforest. The theory therein
was also endorsed by Buckminster Fuller, some top Russian climatologists,and
the
then-current
Head of Climate Studies at Berkeley. Comedian Robin Williams said
of "Stopping the Coming Ice Age" ..."Every human being on the planet should
see
this
video".
To
this day, Sting, Paul Simon, and many other artists, and scientists, contribute
efforts to address climate change through awareness and action.
The
writer acknowledges that many other complex issues, such as ocean currents,
volcanic activity, etc. also play into the ideas presented above. In addition,
studies of ancient tree ring characteristics, and of rock, soil,
and sedimentary deposits, etc. have helped formulate the assemblage of
the above condensed wordings.
Writer's
e-mail: kgdrumz@telusplanet.com
