Runaway climate change is now happening

[Peter Lemkin]

It would be expected that some locations would experience record cold rather than record warm. However, overall, averaged over the entire Planet, there is a CLEAR warming trend; one that is accelerating. Those who do not understand climate change mechanisms often make the mistake of pointing to apparent contradictions. There is more energy in the weather system [air, surface water, oceans, landmass] and more extremes are the result [stronger and more storms; heavier rains but also stronger droughts in other places; record heat but also record cold; ocean warming and air warming GENERALLY, but local areas will experience the opposite. The normal patterns have changed due to the increased energy in the system. Certain things are clear and generally accepted by climate and environmental scientists: general overall Global Warming; melting of glaciers and the icecaps; sea level rise; ocean temperature warming; increased CO2 in air and oceans; weather pattern changes with generally stronger weather patterns and storms. All of these patterns are accelerating. The vast majority of atmospheric and environmental scientists also believe these changes are human-produced and will be increasing due to: increased population; increased technological advances of the growing World population; 'runaway effect' level we are near or perhaps have passed.

While in Earth's past similar events have happened, they have generally happened over much much longer time [usually thousands to millions of years] periods due to factors other than humans. It is believed that only large asteroid/comet crashes on Earth have caused such quick climate change. Humans have caused this and only humans can [maybe] fix this. As things stand now we will be unable to stop at least a 2-4 degree Celsius warming [a very large amount!!!]; with resulting melting of all of north polar ice in summer and much of Antarctica; decreased pH [acidity] of the oceans and coral and other ocean species die-off; stronger weather patterns; more storms; sea level rise of several meters by end of century with displacement of hundreds of millions of persons and most major cities on coasts and some rivers; animal migration and changes of usual migration patterns; new diseases and disease vectors; die-off and extinction of many species of plants and animals; negative changes generally to the ecosystem; agricultural disruption; invasive species and pests; general biological/ecological disruption and negative effects. At a certain point [tipping point], this would become a runaway effect and without new inputs [CO2, methane, pollution, heat] it will rapidly change to a new equilibrium point, with drastically different weather and temperatures, which would be fatal for much of life on the Planet. Where exactly that tipping point it is not yet known, but feared to not be far from where we are headed.

To take just one species - corals (which are important hosts to thousands of other aquatic species), between 40-50% have now been lost [died forever] in the last FEW decades! Similar effects will be seen with other aquatic and terrestrial species - including humans eventually.......but already we see increased fighting and wars over water, fertile land, living space, food, etc....this will increase greatly and rapidly. Humans will also be greatly impacted by the loss of and disruptions of the other species - in fact, we already have been.

You can download part [or whole] detailed report by the IPCC here http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg1/