Arctic researchers see early warming signals
Coordinator of upcoming report sees lessons for rest of Earth
SHRINKING ARCTIC SEA ICE
NASA
Based on satellite data, these images show Arctic sea ice in 1979, at left, and in 2003. The ice cover shrunk by 9 percent a decade over that time, NASA says.

MSNBC staff and news service reports
Updated: 3:01 p.m. ET May 24, 2004

OSLO - Global warming is hitting the Arctic more than twice as fast as the rest of the planet in what may be a portent of wider, catastrophic changes, the chairman of an eight-nation study said Monday in summarizing what scientists have learned about climate in the region.

�There is dramatic climate change happening in the Arctic right now ... about 2-3 times the pace of the whole globe,� said Robert Corell, chairman of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, an 1,800-page report to be issued at a meeting in Iceland in November. The report combines input from scientists, indigenous peoples and eight Arctic rim nations.

�If you want to know what the rest of the planet is going to see in the next generation, watch out for the Arctic in the next 5-10 years,� he told Reuters. Global climate change could bring everything from disastrous floods or droughts to a rise in global sea levels that could swamp low-lying Pacific islands.

Most climate scientists believe warmer global temperatures are tied to industrial emissions of carbon dioxide, a gas that gives the Earth its greenhouse effect.

FACT FILE What drives climate change?
� Solar input
� The atmosphere
� The oceans
� The water cycle
� Clouds
� Ice and snow
� Land surfaces
� Human influences

Solar input
A third of the sun's energy is reflected back into space after hitting Earth's upper atmosphere, but two thirds gets through, driving Earth's weather engine.
The atmosphere
A delicate balance of gases gives Earth its livable temperature. Known as "greenhouse" gases because they trap heat inside the atmosphere, they send a portion of that heat back to Earth's surface. The gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.
The oceans
Covering two thirds of Earth, oceans are the key source of moisture in the air and they store heat efficiently, transporting it thousands of miles. The oceans and marine life also consume huge amounts of carbon dioxide.
The water cycle
Higher air temperatures can increase water evaporation and melting of ice. And while water vapor is the most potent greenhouse gas, clouds also affect evaporation, creating a cooling effect.
Clouds
They both cool Earth by reflecting solar energy and warm Earth by trapping heat being radiated up from the surface.
Ice and snow
The whiteness of ice and snow reflects heat out, cooling the planet. When ice melts into the sea, that drives heat from the ocean.
Land surfaces
Mountain ranges can block clouds, creating "dry" shadows downwind. Sloping land allows more water runoff, leaving the land and air drier. A tropical forest will soak up carbon dioxide, but once cleared for cattle ranching, the same land becomes a source of methane, a greenhouse gas.
Human influences
Humans might be magnifying warming by adding to the greenhouse gases naturally present in the atmosphere. Fuel use is the chief cause of rising carbon dioxide levels. On the other hand, humans create temporary, localized cooling effects through the use of aerosols, such as smoke and sulfates from industry, which reflect sunlight away from Earth.

Examples of change
Research has established some potential benefits from warming in the Arctic, such as possibly extending an Arctic sea route from the 20 days a year it's now open to 100 days by 2050. And Russia might get easier access to oil and gas as the icecap shrinks and permafrost retreats.

� The greenhouse effect
How the Earth maintains a temperature conducive to life
But the broader possibilities are disturbing. Inuit hunters are falling more frequently through the thinning ice and habitats for plants and animals are also disrupted. The icy Hudson Bay in Canada could be uninhabitable for polar bears within just 20 years.

The melting is also destabilizing buildings on permafrost and threatening an oil pipeline laid across Alaska.

In parts of Scandinavia, Birch trees are taking over traditional reindeer lichen pastures and reindeer there are now having to compete with elk and red deer moving north.

Why warming on ice?
Scientists say the Arctic is particularly sensitive to warming because of the fact that it is so white. Similar to how white clothing reflects heat, Arctic ice reflects vast amounts of solar radiation that would otherwise be absorbed by the planet. So when ice caps recede, sunlight that would have been reflected is instead absorbed by the darker mass of ocean and land.

That warms the surrounding environment and intensifies what scientists call a "feedback loop" � in this case a warmer planet melts more ice, which in turn warms the planet even further.

Some parts of Alaska have heated up 10 times more than the global average, said Corell, a senior fellow at the American Meteorological Society.

�I think it (climate change) can be stopped," he said, "but we will need an aggressive response.�

If the worst happens, say goodbye to many coastal cities. The upshot of this is that we'll all move inland. Since much of the east coast is liberal, there will be enough of us to turn red states blue.
The liberals lost, the religious right won.

Dennis, just don't move to Kansas! We're looking out for your ass. You won't survive in this red state climate.

I'd probably move back to Albuquerque, so I could say to my dog "We're not in Kansas anymore, Scotty"

Hey, man, I think we got one pair of Ruby Slippers left, if you're interested. But the bidding is getting way up there.

I don't believe one word about global warming nor do I care.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeyD:
[qb]I don't believe one word about global warming nor do I care.[/qb]

This post is for people who care.

Since when am I not allowed to comment on any post ?? Are you putting in some kind of special rule I should know about.

Yo Mikey, you say what you have to , dont worry about these punks...................

A closed mind is a wonderful thing to waste.

I think Bush is convinced there is global warming, but refuses to do anyhting because he believes it will hurt the U.S. business.

One of the problems with the term "global warming" is that the scientists and politicians never explain what the models predict other then ice melting and sea-level rise. Actually under global warming some places will actually get colder. A significant change that will occur will be the shifting of where certain vegetation and crops could be grown. Some species will have to adapt, move or become extint. This will happen gradually over many decades.

Not many scientists believe that we could stop the warming, but there are things that could be done to mitigate the problem

If the east river overflows, you better get out of your apartment real quick...........

quote:

Originally posted by kennybopaloo:
[qb]If the east river overflows, you better get out of your apartment real quick...........[/qb]

From your profile:
Retired NYS Correctional Officer & Part Time Proctologist.

During the 70s,30 years ago the same scienists were concerned about global cooling.I wonder what the concern wll be about 30 years from now.

Dont forget to give your chair a grease job.

Why dont you become a missionary somewhere in a third world country.

Martyf, in the 60s I worked next door to a scientist who was the leading advocate of global change, but his models showed that carbon dioxide caused cooling.

quote:

Originally posted by kennybopaloo:
[qb]Why dont you become a missionary somewhere in a third world country.[/qb]

What have you ever done that was worthwhile?

Dont question me about anything.

Just hide out in that little apartment and play your stupid games.

Dont you ever clean up that dump ???????????

quote:

Originally posted by kennybopaloo:
[qb]Dont question me about anything.

Just hide out in that little apartment and play your stupid games.

Dont you ever clean up that dump ???????????[/qb]

What have you ever done that was worthwhile?

Is your P/C on automatic, or are you repeating the same question over and over again.

Change the channel or put on a good movie.

Maybe if you stayed off your P/C for a couple of days, you wouldnt be posting these dumb statements.

Do you have a hobby or something of that nature ???

Do you have any friends that you go out with once in awhile???????????????????????????????