The US government Climate Change Science Program recently released their final report on Abrupt Climate Change online.It seems that the US government have finally started to say what many others already know to be true, that climate change is happening and it is largely related to human activities.
Though the summary report’s conclusions are a little muted, it clearly is a step in the right direction to admitting the cause and effects of climate change. The United States faces the potential for abrupt climate change in the 21st century that could pose clear risks to society in terms of our ability to adapt, explains the report. These “abrupt” changes may occur over decades or less, persist for decades more, and cause substantial disruptions to human and natural systems.
The report is based on an assessment of existing published science data, which covers both pro and anti climate change material, and tries to project what might occur over the next century.
The major conclusions are:
Rapid and sustained September Arctic sea ice loss is likely in the 21st century.
Southwestern United States may be beginning an abrupt period of increased drought.
It is very likely that the northward flow of warm water in the upper layers of the Atlantic Ocean, which has an important impact on the global climate system, will decrease by approximately 25–30 percent.There is unlikely to be an abrupt release of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, to the atmosphere from deposits in the earth. However, it is very likely that the pace of methane emissions will increase.
The U.S. Climate Change Science Program commissioned this report with contributions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Science Foundation.
US Government Climate Change Science Program: www.climatescience.gov
Show/Hide comment form
