Two new reports published in Thursday’s issue of the journal Science have rung warning bells about the global climate system. The reports warn that global warming will continue and sea levels will continue to rise for another century, even if we stop burning oil and coal right away.
The studies were based on computer-simulated models of the global climate system using the concept of thermal inertia. Researchers attempted to develop a system by which one could ‘measure’ the effect of this phenomenon on global climate. Thermal inertia assumes that climate changes are delayed because water (oceans particularly) takes longer to heat and cool off than air.
So whether or not we stop emissions of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, the planet is at a point of no-return on the way to global warming and associated catastrophes. One of the reports warned that the northern part of America could experience heat waves more frequently.
The researchers also predicted a drop in the number of frost days - frost can kill insect pests, which logically meant temperatures could get warmer and more conducive for crop destroying pests.
Worldwide seal levels could rise by 100 centimeters by 2400 which in turn would have major consequences for many parts of the world.
If the reports sound like doomsday warnings they are not meant to be so. A scientist from the one of the research teams, said “we hope the results are interpreted as cause for action, not pessimism.” The studies were conducted by researchers from the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Explaining the unstoppable global warming, another researcher of the NCAR, Tom Wigley, said “the climate situation could be compared to driving a car. Even if you removed your foot from the accelerator, the vehicle will not stop immediately. It would keep going for a while. What’s happening with the climate is similar because the massive thermal inertia of the oceans will continue to affect the climate for some time even if we were to stop all emission of greenhouse gases today.”
In any case, keeping emissions under control is a tall order considering the world’s growing population who cannot do without fuel for their vehicles and power needs. A huge contribution to the greenhouse gas mass comes from the internal combustion engines of vehicles, from power plants and other human activities.
