That is the title of this New York Times story which warns that
over the coming decades are likely to surpass levels not seen on the planet since before the last ice age.
The article is reporting on new research
scheduled for publication on Friday in the journal Science, Shaun Marcott, an earth scientist at Oregon State University, and his colleagues compiled the most meticulous reconstruction yet of global temperatures over the past 11,300 years, virtually the entire Holocene. They used indicators like the distribution of microscopic, temperature-sensitive ocean creatures to determine past climate.
We know climate change deniers will attribute the increase in temperatures to normal natural changes. Allow me to quote part of the article:
Scientists say that if natural factors were still governing the climate, the Northern Hemisphere would probably be destined to freeze over again in several thousand years. “We were on this downward slope, presumably going back toward another ice age,” Dr. Marcott said.
Instead, scientists believe the enormous increase in greenhouse gases caused by industrialization will almost certainly prevent that.
Please keep reading
The modern rise that has recreated the temperatures of 5,000 years ago is occurring at an exceedingly rapid clip on a geological time scale, appearing in graphs in the new paper as a sharp vertical spike. If the rise continues apace, early Holocene temperatures are likely to be surpassed within this century, Dr. Marcott said.
This is a key point. The change is
exceedingly rapid - which takes outside of what is know about the historical record, and what we can ascertain about changes earlier than that.
The final paragraph points out what should be obvious:
“We and other living things can adapt to slower changes,” Dr. Mann said. “It’s the unprecedented speed with which we’re changing the climate that is so worrisome.”
Yes, that Dr. Mann, Michael Mann, now of Penn State, formerly at UVa, where he was targeted by Ken Cuccinelli, our batshit crazy Attorney General is already running for President - oh, you thought he was just running for Governor of Virginia? He has already made appearances in Iowa.
The pace of change is going to threaten not only the survival of many species, but human civilization.
Areas currently very productive of footstuff are going to be unable to grow current crops because of the changes in climate.
We of course know the impact of sea level rise, which now seems unavoidable as melting of polar ice caps seems to be accelerating.
We will see changes in important ocean currents.
Storms will become ever more intense, including winter storms, because the warmer air can contain more moisture and will contain more energy.
But what difference does science make if the likes of the Koch Brothers can buy enough politicians to prevent our governments - including state and local - from making the changes in law and rules to try to prevent this from happening?
The title of this is scary enough.
It is the implications that are truly frightening.