William H. Calvin bespeaks much of this whole issue, and a number of others, besides (including putting up online versions of his books, chapter by chapter, free for all to read - lovely!).
I came here via sartorias' journal, and since climate change is one of my things, I was grateful for stigandnasty919's response above. :)
Indeed, it is a complex question, and one which can and usually has happened quite abruptly (as in, within a decade, or less) before.
Humanity has, with the advent of the industrial age (generating major global warming mechanisms and changes), brought the entire Earth system up to the point of the next (I suspect major, sadly) Ice Age, and if we escape a major die-off of many species, then we'll be lucky.
Bear in mind that the original post was not meant to be taken very seriously. (It never is when I threaten bodily violence!) It was largely a way to have a laugh at what has been a depressing and dreary spring (which is also costing me an awful lot of money in heating, much more than I had budgeted for). As a rule, I prefer not to have very firm opinions in field of which I have no knowledge.
Our weather here in Minnesota has been rather dreary of late, too - but that excess energy in the entire system (from the global warming, and in such things as the release of all that latent energy from the glacial meltwaters, among other things) - that excess energy does promote abrupt climate shifts, including the wacky weather we've been suffering through. Calvin actually talks about the "Little Ice Age" and its effects on the cultures in Europe - from bread riots to "witch" burnings, all because, hot or cold, the climates were just not stable. If it's stable, we can adapt to the new thing. But when it's not - that's a whole other ball of wax.
All I can say is, budget more for the basics, and reduce, re-use, and recycle, because it's going to get worse. :|
It's all interesting stuff - just scary, at times.
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Date: 2008-04-18 08:27 pm (UTC)William H. Calvin bespeaks much of this whole issue, and a number of others, besides (including putting up online versions of his books, chapter by chapter, free for all to read - lovely!).
I came here via sartorias' journal, and since climate change is one of my things, I was grateful for stigandnasty919's response above. :)
Indeed, it is a complex question, and one which can and usually has happened quite abruptly (as in, within a decade, or less) before.
Humanity has, with the advent of the industrial age (generating major global warming mechanisms and changes), brought the entire Earth system up to the point of the next (I suspect major, sadly) Ice Age, and if we escape a major die-off of many species, then we'll be lucky.
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Date: 2008-04-18 08:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-18 09:10 pm (UTC)All I can say is, budget more for the basics, and reduce, re-use, and recycle, because it's going to get worse. :|
It's all interesting stuff - just scary, at times.