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General
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Written by Rafael Reyes
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Thursday, 25 November 2010 03:10 |
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While the downturn in the economy worldwide resulted in slight easing in the rate of greenhouse gas emissions in 2009, 2010 emissions will likely hit a new high - as will global temperatures according to the U.S. National Climatic Data Center.
Scientists from the U.K., U.S., Australia and France analyzed emission data from the United Nations, U.S. Geological Survey and other sources. They found that overall, CO2 emissions from fossil fuels decreased 1.3% in 2009. The largest decreases in emissions occurred in developed nations such as the U.S. (-6.9%) and Japan (-11.8%). In contrast, emerging economies like China and India posted significant emission gains (+8% and +6.2%, respectively). Coal represented a larger share of fossil fuel emissions in 2009 for both developed and emerging economies. The average global concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere was 387.2 ppm by the end of 2009. With the economic recovery and an increase in the global GDP, CO2 emissions are expected to increase by more than 3% in 2010.
Temperature rise, already "baked in" with historical emissions, continue to trend upwards.
Temperatures are now about 0.8 degrees above pre-industrial levels, and 2010 is about 0.5 degrees above the 1961-1990 average, near the record, with two months data still to collect.
Even with a possible cool end to the year, 2010 is expected to be no lower than third in a record where 1998 and 2005 are warmest. The U.N. panel of climate scientists says higher temperatures mean more floods, heatwaves and rising sea levels.
Not surprisingly, sea ice extent hit the third lowest on record according to the US National Ice Center (a joint project of the US Navy, Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency).
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Last Updated on Thursday, 25 November 2010 03:29 |
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General
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Written by Rafael Reyes
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Monday, 16 August 2010 00:19 |
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A spate of extreme weather events are have been impacting multiple parts of the world in a pattern consistent with scientific expectations of the consequences of climate change.
Prominent climate experts from the Met Office in the UK, the National Center for Atmospheric Research in the U.S., the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and other institutions say the recent spate of extreme weather is consistent with manmade climate change.
- As of August 10, wildfires have killed 52 people in Russia and prompted nearly 750 more to seek medical care. The fires span over 1,740 km2 (672 square miles), nearly the same amount of rainforest burned in Brazil between June 2009 and 2010. Officials fear that soot from the fires could settle in the Arctic, hastening melting of glaciers and sea ice.
- In Pakistan, the death toll from floods caused by unusually heavy monsoons reached 1,600 on August 11. Approximately 14 million people have been affected overall.
- In China, 702 people have been killed as of August 10 by mudslides caused by record-setting rains. Over 1,000 more people are missing.
- In western Africa, where millions of people are suffering food shortages induced by drought, seasonal flooding has killed almost 100 people and displaced at least 5,000 more as of August 10.
- And finally, on August 5, a 97-square-mile (251 km2) chunk of ice — the largest since 1962 — calved from the Petermann Glacier on the northwestern coast of Greenland. Canadian officials fear that the massive “ice island” could pose a risk to ships and oil platforms.
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General
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Written by Rafael Reyes
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Sunday, 15 August 2010 17:40 |
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A new study from UC Davis highlights additional impacts from climate change - degraded air quality.
The new study provides evidence of what is becoming known as the “climate penalty,” in which rising temperatures increase ground-level ozone and airborne health-damaging particles, despite the reductions achieved by programs targeting smog-forming emissions from cars, trucks and industrial sources.
This illustration shows projected ozone changes in California's south coast region due to climate change in the year 2050. Areas in orange and red could see ozone concentrations elevated by nine to 18 parts per billion.
More information: The full report and an executive summary are available at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/apr/past/climate.htm |
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Last Updated on Sunday, 15 August 2010 17:46 |
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General
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Written by Geidy Baldeon
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Monday, 21 June 2010 18:14 |
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The aging beauty of trees may be cut short due to climate change. While some public attitude surveys suggest growing skepticism surrounding climate change, a recent study shows the long-term effects of a warmer planet. Ecologist Patrick Gonzalez from the University of California Berkeley and other researchers from the U.S. Forest Service indicate that climate change is causing major global vegetation shifts. The analysis, taking into consideration 20th century data and 21st century projections, found that certain kinds of vegetation are moving towards higher altitudes and latitudes or, in other cases, towards the rainier equator. The shifted plants and trees are now giving way to warm-climate vegetation.
Moreover, an estimated one-tenth to one-half of the land mass on Earth will be highly vulnerable to climate-related vegetation shifts by the end of this century, depending upon how effectively humans are able to curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to the study.
These drastic vegetation shifts will potentially have many side effects such as reducing habitats for wildlife, disturbing ecosystems and adjusting the services to people. It all depends on the actions we take now, as a nation, state, community or person, to reduce the impacts that promote a warmer planet. |
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General
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Written by Rafael Reyes
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Sunday, 09 May 2010 17:34 |
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Some good news on the carbon output front. US DOE reports that carbon output declined in 2009. This was not solely because of the economic slowdown.
But the recession is far from the only contributing factor to the emissions decline. Even though economic activity dropped 2.4% last year, the population increased 0.9%. One of the biggest factors in the CO2 drop: a 4.3% drop in the carbon intensity of the energy sector due to increased use of renewables and natural gas production efficiency improvements. Better vehicle fuel efficiency also played a part.
Hat-tip FastCompany. |
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Last Updated on Sunday, 09 May 2010 17:41 |
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