Australian study says global warming speeding up
Reuters’ AlertNet are running a story, Australian study says global warming speeding up.
“The impacts of a changing climate are beginning to emerge,” said the report, titled Stronger Evidence But New Challenges: Climate Change Science 2001-2005, adding that evidence of warming was becoming easier to observe.
“High temperature extremes, such as the August 2003 heatwave in central Europe that had severe impacts on human health, are becoming more common.”
The report downgraded the long-term cooling affect of aerosol particles in the atmosphere, and found melting snow and ice would cut the reflectivity of the earth’s surface and add to rising temperatures.
“The most dramatic example of this effect will likely occur in the Arctic Ocean, which is now projected to become almost totally ice-free in summer later this century,” the report said.
“Retreating ice and snow expose darker underlying land and ocean surfaces, leading to enhanced absorption of sunlight and further warming.”
The report said the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere continued to increase, while the upper layers of the world’s oceans were warming.
Australia’s Environment Minister Ian Campbell released the report on Tuesday. Campbell said Australia contributed just 1.4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
‘Just’ 1.4% of emissions! Australians make up 0.003% of the world’s population, and yet produce 1.4% of the world’s CO2 emissions. It’s hardly something to be proud of is it. — DS
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