h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Scientists have correlated the Earth's warming trend to carbon levels in ice found at the North Pole. They've looked at temperature data (what little there is of it) from the last ice age, and the temp did not rise this fast last time around. The temperatures began to rise dramatically as the Industrial Age got cranking, and they've been rising ever since. So I think it's a safe assumption to say that carbon levels are what's causing our quickly-rising temperatures.

Scientists are also saying that because of our inaction, the ice has reached the point where if the earth dropped a few degrees, it would continue to melt. There's too much melted ice, and the rest of the ice isn't able to maintain its temperature. So while I'd still like to see things like the Kyoto protocol enacted, we shouldn't expect things to get better. We're just trying to keep them from getting worse.

When the earth warms up, the weather gets more exciting. We get more floods, hailstorms, snow, torrential downpours, hurricanes, and tornadoes - because the hot masses of air are causing major disruptions in our weather patterns. This past year in Fort Worth, Texas, we've had a record amount of rainfall - more rain than we've ever gotten, and I do mean *ever.* Our summers have been more pleasant, and our winters much colder and icier than normal. I moved from southeast Texas to Fort Worth because I liked the dry climate; now it seems like I took the climate with me!

We can also see the effects of global warming most strongly in sea life. Bacteria that used to live on the underside of ice floes now has nowhere to go, so it's dying out. The fish that ate the bacteria are starving, so the penguins that used to eat the fish now are going hungry. Which means the walruses are getting a bit peckish, too, because penguins are their main staple. Other bacteria that can appreciate warm water are infecting fish and making them inedible. Global warming is also destroying the bacteria that add color to our sea corals.

Global warming is inevitable, of course. But global warming shouldn't be happening this quickly - and to say none of it is our fault is sheer arrogance.

This past year in Fort Worth, Texas, we've had a record amount of rainfall - more rain than we've ever gotten, and I do mean *ever.*

I would like to point out two things.

Firstly When you say *ever*: This doesn't have to be true (and probably isn't). weather has only been measured, recorded etc (in a relyable, scientific) way for a hundred years or so. Maybe less... So what you mean to say is that in the last hundred years there hasn't been this much rain.

Secondly: So what? The thing with global warming is that the extremes don't matter, it is a case of averages. The average temp has to rise. The average total rain has to change etc. One extreme year doesn't mean that Global warming is happening or that huge climatic changes are occuring. It simply means that due to some circumstance, which we still don't realy understand, conditions were thus that a lot of rain was able to fall. After all, one year has to have had the most rain.

Rod

All this is very true, and as it turns out, 2004 was not a record year of rainfall for Ft. Worth. What's more interesting to me is that we've come close to breaking the historical record (1919) three years in a row. We've also had three or four years of cool summers. Usually Ft. Worth sees a couple of 100+ degree days. There's been two summers in the last five that didn't reach 100 degrees.

My point was not that our average temperature is rising (or falling) but that our weather patterns are changing. We aren't seeing a huge change in climates, but it's enough to make it rain more! Air masses from the Pacific are meeting with warm masses of air from the Gulf of Mexico. Is this caused by ice melting at the poles? I think so.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4228411.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2558319.stm

From this article:
> In total, the arctic warming is an unprecedented trend, according to Dr Hinzman.
"We're experiencing the most rapid increase in temperature in recorded history," he said.

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/weather-patterns/flooding.htm

http://www.emmitsburg.net/gardens/articles/adams/2003/changing_weather_patterns.htm

As if we needed any more assurance...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1490248,00.html