Caused by politicians, if there is not a soon significant reduction in use of fossil fuel human race terminates 2050-2055. Global warming is that simple.
Currently, U.S. global warming planning and responses are on hold until "untoward politicians" become "toward politicians." Unless U.S. politicians become capable of rising above self interests there will be no life saving global warming responses.
To prevent 2050-2055 end human race it is necessary that politicians must first publicly announce that greenhouse gas emissions and global warming is a national and global urgent security concern requiring implementation of immediate responses.
Announcing a Global Warming Solution
To alter undeniable catastrophic temperature increase direction, quick reduction of electrical generation hydrocarbon (lignite, coal, oil, and natural gas) emission gases is required -- only starting replacement of hydrocarbon energy with nuclear energy may alter course of global warming events by reducing human greenhouse gases. Not public are mandates as to how much, in what way or manner, and when global warming greenhouse gases are to be reduced.
NOTE: Natural and human greenhouse gases and global warming is a complicated detailed topic. General statements can provide some guidance but global warming solutions need technical guidance.
Nuclear energy is only available clean energy source with enough energy capacity to make a difference in course of global warming terminal events. Without expansion of nuclear energy human race termination is evident.
Planning -- Important, global warming response planning is a technical problem that must not be politically controlled or influenced. For U.S. Congress of 2013-2014 to participate in preventing 2017 exceeding of 'global carbon budget,' the 1974 Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) membership is to be replaced by four senior nuclear specialists and one presidential appointee. Revised scope of revised NRC membership is to include supervisions of U.S. 'Nuclear Fuel Cycle' and rapid expansion of U.S. nuclear energy. Nuclear energy costs are to be reviewed for appropriate reductions. Global and U.S. plans for global warming reduction are to be produced by intelligence agencies with international cooperation.
EARTH'S WARMING POLITICS and MEDIA
Prior to 2017, U.S. Federal Debt is projected to exceed $20 trillion, not one dime of which will produce a reduction in global warming temperature increase. Do nothing politicians have gone into unprecedented U.S. debt to keep their President Obama and Congress special interest loyal. Political self interests have created 2050-2055 end of human races by their lack of adequate responses.
For more than two decades scope and goals of global warming have been sidetracked by political process of deceit, lies, misrepresentation, dishonesty, greed, and corruption.
Global Warming Response Delays
Stockholm 1971, a comprehensive gathering of experts from 14 nations focused specifically on climate change -- a "Study of Man's Impact on Climate" (SMIC). All experts agreed in issuing a report with stern warnings about risk of severe global warming. During 1988, a few outspoken scientists, convinced by new evidence that rapid climate change might be imminent, made public fully aware of the problem. In 1990's, politicians and special interests obscured public awareness of global warming needs. By 2007 politicians and special interests were working in earnest to deny global warming. Around 2009, to favor carbon energy industry, media increased support of lack of global warming responses.
With formation of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 1974 politicians caped expansion of U.S. nuclear energy, shifting energy away from nuclear energy to greater dependence on U.S. carbon lignite, coal, oil, and natural gas. Currently, largest single source of carbon emissions are electricity generation power plants that burn fossil carbon fuels. In 2011 global nuclear power plants produced 73 million tonnes carbon dioxide (or 0.0091 of carbon lignite, coal, oil, and natural gas carbon dioxide emissions).
Rejected by U.S. Senate, 'United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change' Kyoto Protocol (1997) sets the record for most ignored suicide note to be abused by U.S. self serving politicians. Kyoto Protocol spelled out need to reduce global warming greenhouse gas emissions while politicians directed covert undermining of United Nations efforts to reduce emissions. Without mandated accords to reduce use of lignite, coal, oil, and natural gas it becomes impossible to stop global warming. Not stopping global warming does terminate all human life around 2050-2055.
In 1990's, special political interest took over United Nations responses to global warming that resulted in 20-years and 17 United Nations 'climate change' meetings during which nothing was accomplished that had anything to due with global warming. In 2005, "a new social framework which has energy sustainability" was promoted as core of congressional energy policies. U.S. Democratic communist leadership created "social framework" of green alternatives to energy for siphoning off government funding to special interests while appearing to be addressing 'climate change,' environment, and energy issues.
Left Democratic green alternative energy transferred $100's of billions of funds to special interests and created global warming diversions with "green alternative to energy." President Obama continues to receive support of special interest lignite, coal, oil, and natural gas industries. To prevent carbon industry competition President Obama further suppressed nuclear energy while promoting green alternative to energy diversions. President Obama alignment with lignite, coal, oil, and natural gas energy effective monopolies has seriously increased probability of all humans death 2050-2055.
Upon coming into office 2009, President Obama suspended proposed Keystone XL pipeline construction. Keystone XL was not suspended for any environmental or global warming reason, rather pipeline construction suspension had to do with perpetuating huge existing carbon interests that underwrite President Obama. For his purposes President Obama perpetuates global warming destruction of human race.
In December 2009, at Denmark 15th Conference of the Parties (COP-15), President Obama promoted transfer of wealth schemes that permanently derailed global responses to global warming. European-U.S. Democratic Communist 2011 shutdown of German nuclear energy was, in fact, German politicians emulating President Obama's alliance with carbon lignite, coal, oil, and natural gas energy.
Under President Obama, global warming information provided by government and most universities and colleges is 'tweaked' and blocked by White House Staff. Appointed "Czars" assure there is no educational conflict with President Obama and U.S. Democratic communist. Through procedure of Obama's government departments' writing grants, and Czars screening education-research grant topics, grants to science and humanities, universities and colleges exclude mention of nuclear energy as a solution to correcting greenhouse gases emissions. Professors and graduate students know that they cannot produce independent research that contradicts a policy (or politics) of President Obama. If there is any contradiction, federal (and some state) grants to the out of order college or university is reduced or cut off. Academic global warming misinformation is often produced by biased media. Often there are unauthorized changes to internet material. By coercion U.S. academia, media, and government agencies do not publicly disagree with President Obama's policies -- they follow orders.
Global warming change is one of the greatest problems we face today and it is imperative that young people learn not just science, but also global warming effects. Without knowledge and understanding of global warming social, economic, and environmental impacts, how can young people be prepared to deal with global warming consequences being created today.
Media (liberal and conservative) no longer discuss nuclear energy. Politicians and special interests have removed all talk of nuclear energy as a viable carbon-free energy source. Media reporting on global warming reflects what political action committees (PACs) write and what media corporations produce. Massive corporations dominate U.S. media landscape. Through a history of mergers and media acquisitions (particularly resulting from 2000's print media downsizing and increased internet popularity), these companies have concentrated their control over what we see, hear, and read. In many cases, these companies are vertically integrated, controlling everything from initial production to final distribution and knowledge content. Recognition and responding to global warming is counter to President Obama and Congress policies/politics. Global warming is also counter to media's continuing interests in carbon energy industries.
Autocratic President Obama has direct control over people, government operations, and funding via designated Czars and Cabinet appointees. Congressional legislation is rendered subordinate to President Obama's agenda by Senate leadership. Directly controlling government (and U.S. Senate) assures President Obama that his interest in lignite, coal, oil, and natural gas energy monopolies remain and is protected from nuclear energy competition. President Obama does not openly lead -- he covertly directs behind his shield of deniability. President Obama selects articles in U.S. Constitution he will follow and ignores other articles.
For more than two decades, official scope and goals of global warming have been sidetracked by political process of deceit, lies, misrepresentation, dishonesty, greed, and corruption. U.S. political leadership since January 2007 has more firmly established self destructive politics and more firmly established termination of all humans within ~40 years. Global warming carbon infrastructure "tip point" will be exceeded ~2017.
There are only two sources of clean energy that might curb enough greenhouse gases and may save human races: nuclear reactor energy and hydroelectric energy. Hydroelectric energy capacity is maxed out and running into problems. U.S. nuclear energy has been squashed by President Obama.
If human race provided a proper relationship with Earth and carbon energy resources, the human race could live for a million years. Until such a relationship does develop, we only exist to 2050-2055.
EARTH'S NORMAL WARMING
Scientists' growing understanding of Earth-atmosphere system have only lately brought this previously obscure field of science to wider attention. This letter presents a general overview of Earth's regulation of its temperature for hundreds of millions of years and Modern Global Warming Era. Topics presented are general, but global warming sciences are interactive and when studied in depth is very technical. What you do to global warming now has an effect 20-years from now. Correcting modern global warming is done properly first time, there is no second chance to save human race.
Several Million Years Ago
Events of millions of years ago form a foundation of Earth knowledge that relates to recent warming trends. Events of 1750 AD to 2050 AD are Modern Global Warming Era. Current Earth warming characteristics of volcanic gases are much milder than current human produced global warming gases.
There are four major forms of fossil fuels (lignite, coal, oil, and natural gas) in use today. Lignite (brown coal) is geologically younger than higher-grade coals (black coal). Three fossil energies (coal, oil, natural gas) were formed hundreds of millions of years ago during the Carboniferous Period (360 to 286 million years ago). "Carboniferous" gets its name from carbon, the basic element in coal and other fossil fuels. It is human use of fossil fuels for last ~250 years that has created today's global warming.
252.28 million years ago -- Atmospheric gas composition, physical action, and quantities determine Earth’s global temperature changes: natural volcanic gases (vented from volcanic Siberian Traps) and natural ocean methane hydrates dominate temperature change rates. End-Permian (Permian–Triassic extinction event) was greatest mass extinction ever recorded in Earth history. Permian period was between 290 million years ago (Ma) and 252 Ma. At that time the land was a mass Pangaea supercontinent.
High-precision dating reveals End-Permian extinction peak occurred just before 252.28 +/- 0.08 million years ago. The extinction interval was less than 200,000 years and synchronous in marine and terrestrial realms; associated charcoal-rich and soot-bearing layers indicate widespread wildfires on land. A massive release of global warming carbon dioxide and/or methane may have caused catastrophic extinctions.
At End-Permian Mass Extinction 252.28 million years ago, 95% of all marine life on earth was killed. 70% of all land families became extinct. A major difference between Modern Global Warming temperature increase event and End-Permian Mass Extinction is that Modern Global Warming temperature increase during the beginning stages is unprecedented and is hundreds of times faster than End-Permian Period -- there will be more than nine billion people involved.
55.8 million years ago -- Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) was a short interval of maximum temperature lasting approximately 100,000 years during the late Paleocene and early Eocene epochs. Although the underlying causes are unclear, some authorities associate PETM with sudden release of methane hydrates from ocean sediments (see methane burp hypothesis) triggered by a massive volcanic eruption greenhouse gases. Methane burp hypothesis may also be applicable to Modern Global Warming Era conditions.
Onset of PETM was geologically rapid, occurring within a few thousand years, and ecological consequences were large, with widespread extinctions in both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Global temperatures rose at least 5°C (9°F) during transition into PETM. Due to Arctic Region methane hydrate releases, PETM sea surface temperatures in high-latitude Arctic may have been as warm as 23°C (73°F), comparable to modern subtropical and warm-temperate seas.
PETM temperatures rose rapidly over approximately 6,000 years, and then gradually cooled to near-background levels over the next 150,000–200,000 years. Warming was not uniform across the globe: sea surface temperatures increased by ~6 °C at high latitudes and ~4 °C at low latitudes, and deep-water temperatures increased by ~8 °C at high latitudes and ~6 °C at low latitudes. On land, temperatures increased by ~5 °C in the middle latitudes and by ~3 °C near the equator. Evidence for changes in precipitation is mixed.
PETM was a period of rapid extinctions and adaptations as species struggled to adapt to changing environments while facing fierce competition from migrating species.
In 2010, globally 33.4 billion tonnes (36.8 billion tons) of atmospheric carbon came from fossil fuels. Carbon and methane are major factors driving Earth's warming temperatures up at an incredible rate. A corresponding rapid increase in powerful global warming methane is also occurring. Ocean methane hydrate has regional positive warming properties that makes it an exceptional natural global warming gas.
PETM severe drought may have led to increased wildfires. Research shows that permafrost on a then glacier-free Antarctica thawed, also released carbon and methane. Another interesting source of carbon that some scientists hypothesize is burning of peat, lignite, and coal seams. Peat is decayed vegetation having high carbon and methane content with high global warming potential. Peat, found in large quantities in Arctic and Amazon surface soil, when ignited can burn and smolder for a century. Current global coal fire emission are estimated to be three percent of the world's annual carbon emissions. Unless global warming tipping points are now prevented, at some future time it is postulated that all of Amazon forest will be completely destroyed by wildfires.
Modern Global Warming Era is an accelerated End-Permian event, modern temperature changes are to be devastating. Unless political changes occur that result in timely change to course of global warming, no human survives past 2050-2055.
Water Cycles -- Regional water cycles can change rapidly and dramatically during Modern Global Warming Era. Of concern is lack of sustainable water supplies -- such as excessive withdrawal of underground water (in particular withdrawal of fossil water) and inadequate surface water flows. Current evaluations of global and regional global warming temperature increases indicate that significant numbers of regions are within a few tenths of degree Celsius of having their natural water cycle seriously impacted. Human impacts upon groundwater storage has been greatly under appreciated.
Increased temperatures, increased populations, and increased agricultural demands increases demand for water and does have direct effect upon plant and animal food-chains.
2013 sea surface temperatures on the continental shelf off U.S. Northeast and Canada have reached their highest levels in 150 years. Warmer water temperatures have affected the distribution and abundance of fish species and weather patterns. Also, water temperatures and salinity affect the global conveyor belt of deep water movement Meridional overturning circulation (MOC), which includes Arctic Region coastal water currents. MOC should be considered within global warming studies.
Interglacial Cycles -- Natural historical Earth interglacial temperature cycles result from natural carbon dioxide and methane levels that are determined by changes of sun’s relative position to Earth orbit described by Milankovitch orbital variations.
Historical Earth interglacial cycles are ~90,000 to ~100,000-year temperature cycles identified by Milankovitch natural Earth temperatures. Current Earth temperatures are overtaken by ~250 years of human hydrocarbon energy (lignite, coal, oil, and natural gas) activity that produced higher levels human and natural greenhouse gas emissions.
11,000 Years Ago To Now -- Studies shows recent greenhouse gas and global heat spike unlike anything seen in 11,000-years -- decade of 1900 to 1910 was one of the coolest in the past 11,300-years -- marine fossil data suggest cooler than 95 percent of other years. Yet, 100-years later, decade of 2000 to 2010 was one of the warmest. In 100-years, we have gone from the cold end of the spectrum to warm end of Earth warming spectrum. This global temperature shift is an extraordinary event in opposition to current Milankovitch orbital variations temperature. Recent 100-year global heat spike “has no precedent.” 1900 to 2010 is period of global warming and "climate change."
Prior to end of 21st Century global warming temperatures will have increased global warming temperature exceeding 6.4 degrees Celsius, created by global warming gases. Because lack of response to continuing increased greenhouse gases results in human race termination by 2050-2055. Earth's average carbon dioxide and methane level at 2050 determines climate Earth's conditions for following decades. It is global warming climate change conditions to 2050 that is most important as it directly relates to human survival.
With non responsive President Obama and U.S. Congress, global warming climate change proceeds as follows. Earth's 2017 'carbon infrastructure' greenhouse gas carbon dioxide emissions exceeds 'Earth carbon cycle' ability to process carbon dioxide. Earth's atmospheric carbon dioxide increases, producing increased global warming of 3.4 degrees Celsius. Stored Arctic Region methane hydrate becomes increasingly dissociated releasing global warming gas methane. Human race ends 2050-2055.
What is Methane Hydrate -- Massive amounts of methane gas are currently stored as methane hydrate and natural carbon deposits beneath permafrost in Arctic and on continental shelves. Methane hydrate forms when methane comes into contact at low temperature and pressure under equilibrium conditions such as found in oceans. Many deep hydrate deposits are indeed stable under influence of rapid seafloor temperature variations. However, shallow deposits, such as those found in Arctic Regions can undergo rapid dissociation and produce significant methane releases over decades (or in days).
Methane (or natural gas) is a product of microbial digestion of carbon over thousands to millions of years. If microbial digestion of carbon occurs within ocean cold water and under pressures, methane release is held in temperature-pressure methane hydrate suspension. Increase temperature, or decrease of pressure, causes methane hydrate dissociation and release of methane.
Methane Hydrate Burp -- There is growing acceptance that changes in methane hydrate reservoirs played an important role in global warming climate change during previous geologic periods. Origin of several global warming episodes has been linked with massive dissociation of methane hydrates and methane ocean/atmosphere carbon cycle transfers.
According to Methane Hydrate Burp (or Gun) Hypothesis episodic atmospheric methane emissions result from instability of marine sedimentary methane hydrate reservoirs and temperature increases. Methane hydrate reservoirs released methane can have a positive feedback of methane that warms region and produces more methane and more warming, etc. -- reflects massive methane releases of gas hydrates. Methane hydrate has a 0 to 1-year high global warming potential (GWP) that, if methane amounts are large, can quickly warm Earth.
Methane hydrate instability occurs over wide areas of Arctic Ocean continental margins. Arctic Ocean coastline shelves containing methane hydrate deposits are warming and releasing methane gas. Field of methane hydrate release is so vast that only estimates of amounts are available.
Combination of melting sea ice and global atmospheric greenhouse gas warming are contributing to high rate of warming in Arctic, temperatures are increasing up to four times faster than the global average.
When and how much methane hydrate is released is a global warming wild card that could destroy human race within a week. Only effective deterrent to methane hydrate gun explosion is stabilizing Arctic Region temperatures.
Carbon Cycle -- Global warming gases carbon dioxide and methane are continually recycled. Processes that release carbon to the atmosphere are called “sources,” while processes that absorb carbon are called carbon “sinks.” Forests, soil, oceans, the atmosphere, and fossil fuels are important "stores" of carbon. Carbon is constantly moving between these different stores, that act as either “sinks” or “sources.” A sink absorbs more carbon than it gives off, while a source emits more than it absorbs. Amount of carbon in atmosphere at any one time depends on the balance that exists between the sinks and sources. This system of sinks and sources operates all over Earth and is known as the "carbon cycle."
Before Industrial Revolution, amount of carbon moving between trees, soil, oceans and the atmosphere was relatively balanced. Due to significant increased human carbon emissions, carbon "sources" are increasing while "sinks" are decreasing -- resulting in atmospheric global warming greenhouse gases increasing.
Arctic and Antarctic Ice -- Currently scientists estimate the oceans absorb more than 90 percent of the heat trapped by greenhouse gases. Global warming's impact and heat content in oceans; and sea level rise from global warming seems to be split 60/40, with 40 percent coming from expansion of sea water caused by warming, and remaining 60 percent coming from melting ice sheets and glaciers. As Arctic and Antarctic regions' ice melts a global warming ocean cooling effect is maintained. Once ice volume significantly decreases, cooling effect significantly decreases, and global warming rate of temperature change significantly increases. Melting (and build up) of global land and sea ice determines long-term sea levels. Global ice conditions are very important.
Greenhouse Warming of Earth -- Primary greenhouse global warming gases under influence of humans are human and natural methane and carbon. Solar energy is conveyed through atmosphere absorbed by Earth. Infrared radiation (heat) is emitted by Earth and a large portion of which is absorbed within atmosphere by global warming greenhouse gases. As atmospheric density of greenhouse gases increases so does Earth's atmosphere warming increase. Resulting is Earth's warming temperature increases causing climate change. Some greenhouse gases stay in atmosphere very long and climate changing effects can last for millions of years.
Climate Change to 2050 -- "Normal" climate changes are described by Milankovitch orbital variations. Modern Global Warming Era climate changes are also influenced by modern greenhouse gases warming earth.
A single extreme-weather event cannot be linked to global warming climate change because climate change is the condition of climate changing over as series of decades or centuries. Weather is a daily or weekly event. Obviously when Earth's temperature increases (or decreases) climate conditions change over time. As global temperature increases there is more atmospheric energy and more moisture within atmosphere. Accepted is global warming climate change produces in some locations severe weather conditions more frequently.
Early humans first migrated out of Africa into Asia probably between 2 million and 1.8 million years ago. They entered Europe somewhat later, between 1.5 million and 1 million years. Species of modern humans populated many parts of the world much later. Beginnings of agriculture and the rise of first civilizations occurred within past 12,000 years.
Prior to 1750's steam engine development, Earth was warmed through natural interactions. Modern emission of greenhouse gases are dominated by human carbon dioxide and methane.
HUMAN AND EARTH GLOBAL WARMING - 1750 AD to 2050 AD
MODERN GLOBAL WARMING ERA
It is human population growth and Industrial Age use of carbon energy for ~250 years that has created modern global warming. If human race provided a proper relationship with Earth and carbon resources, the human race could live for a million years. Until such a relationship does develop, we only exist to 2050-2055.
Current natural volcano global warming greenhouse gas emissions are very much less than human carbon emissions. How fast carbon and methane enters atmosphere translates to how fast Earth temperature increases after delays. Environmental and societal consequences of Earth warming at current greenhouse gas emissions rate will be devastating.
"We Have Met The Enemy and He Is Us" -Pogo poster for Earth Day, 1970. U.S. Public has been aware of Earth's growth issues since at least 1970. However, public is not aware of human existence ~2017 "trip point" caused by use of carbon energy.
In 1983, U.S. National Academy of Sciences called climate change "a cause for concern," which was an understatement. In 1990's, special interests, politicians, media, and other untoward took over United Nations and national global warming responses. For more than two decades scope and goals of global warming have been sidetracked by political process of deceit, lies, misrepresentation, dishonesty, greed, and corruption.
NO-RESPONSE GLOBAL WARMING SCENARIO - A calendar of events
Starting at point of most likely 2050-2055 human race terminus, and working backwards to present, following are a few anticipated general temperature related events. Temperature increase is relative to preindustrial date of 1750. Temperature points are established by projected rate, quantity, type of greenhouse emissions, and time required for greenhouse gases to increase global average temperature.
We are first evolved species that has capability to destroy a planet and all human life. From projected human use of lignite, coal, oil, natural gas, and natural responses -- these are the results:
+6.4 °C: (at 2099)
Oceans lost their oxygen and turn stagnant, released poisonous hydrogen sulphide gas and destroyed ozone layer. "Hypercanes" (hurricanes of unimaginable ferocity) circumnavigate the globe.
+5.4 °C: Sea levels rise
Ice melts adding to sea levels. South Asian society collapsed due to disappearance of glaciers in the Himalayas. Indus River dried up. In East India and Bangladesh, the monsoon floods threatened millions. Most of remaining humanity sought refuge away from higher temperatures closer to poles. Tens of millions of refugees forced their way into Scandinavia, British Isles, Canada, and Siberia.
+4.4 °C: Melting ice caps displace millions
Rapidly rising temperatures in Arctic put Siberian permafrost and Arctic coastline in more rapid melt zone, releasing vast quantities of methane, methane hydrates, and carbon. Melting ice caps and sea level rise displace more than 100 million people, particularly in Bangladesh, the Nile Delta, and Shanghai. Heat waves and drought made much of the sub-tropics uninhabitable: large-scale migration took place through Europe and to north and within U.S. to Canada. Desertification is occurring around Mediterranean. Agriculture has collapsed within Australia.
Presently about 40% of world’s population lives within 100 kilometers (60 miles) of coasts. As ocean levels rise major economic and social disruption occur.
+3.4 °C: Rain forest turns to desert
Tropical rain forests turn to desert, Amazonian rain forest is burned in a firestorm of catastrophic ferocity while extensive underlying peat deposits burn for a century, covering South America with ash and smoke; interiors of Brazil are a desert; huge amounts of extra carbon had entered atmosphere, which further boosts global warming. Entire Arctic ice caps disappeared in summer months, leaving North Pole ice-free for first time in 3 million years; Polar bears, walruses, and ringed seals all went extinct. In California and Rocky Mountains, high-level snows do not materialize. Tens of millions displaced as Kalahari Desert expanded across southern Africa. Within China and U.S., desertification is accelerated. Stored Arctic Region methane hydrate becomes increasingly dissociated.
+2.4 °C: Coral reefs almost extinct (at 2035) Earth's temperatures no longer controllable
NOTE: Expected is global warming reaches 'carbon infrastructure' 'carbon cycle' limits around 2017. Around 2030 carbon dioxide 450 ppm limit is exceeded. Earth's atmospheric warming forces have changed. Earth's temperature increase occurs rapidly and uncontrollably. Earth shall experience unprecedented mass extinctions, including all human races. Only through quickly expanding nuclear energy may terminating global warming temperature increase be averted. Hard part of surviving global warming is solicitation of politicians, media, and special interest is to support survival.
In North America, a new dust bowl brought deserts to life in high plains states, centered on Nebraska. In addition, drought wiped out agriculture and cattle ranching as sand dunes appeared across five US states, from Texas in south to Montana in the north. Most certainly by now, Las Vegas, Nevada, water and electricity usage has been rationed. Rocky Mountain snowmelt is significantly reduced.
Rising sea levels accelerated as Greenland ice sheet tipped into irreversible melt, submerging atoll nations and low-lying deltas. Warming seas wipe out the Great Barrier Reef and made coral reefs virtually extinct throughout the tropics. Ocean methane hydrates increase global warming methane gas emissions. Worldwide, a third of all species on the planet face extinction.
Increasingly depleted are available potable groundwater reserves. Water mining has increased. Surface water storage and annual flow were more subject to extreme weather events. Decreased snow at higher elevations results in increased overdraft of Ogallala Aquifer (part of High Plains Aquifer System). Colorado River basin experiences longer and more frequent droughts and decreased river flow. California can no longer meet its water needs.
Arctic is free of ice in late summers.
+0.8 °C: Existing (2013-2014)
If human races are to survive past 2050-2055, 2013 was the time to have put into place necessary corrections.
A Why of Modern Global Warming
There are two major natural and human hydrocarbon global warming gases, carbon dioxide and methane:
o 1750, greenhouse gas levels -- carbon dioxide concentration levels were ~280 parts per million (ppm) and methane was ~0.700 ppm.
o 2011, greenhouse gas levels -- carbon dioxide concentration levels were 391 ppm and methane was 1.813 ppm.
Fossil fuels (lignite, coal, oil, and natural gas) contain carbon compounds that have a hydrocarbon chain. In chemistry, a hydrocarbon is any chemical compound that consists only of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) elements. Both atmospheric carbon and methane contribute to global warming. Carbon densities have increased due to use of fossil fuel. Methane is emitted from coal mining, petrochemical operations, etc. and by natural gas emissions. A vast (very vast) store of methane is within Arctic Region as temperature-pressure dependent methane hydrate compound. Since PETM and return of cooler Arctic temperatures, Arctic Ocean underwater exposures to lignite, coal, oil, and natural gas have produced methane hydrate compound now in temperature-pressure sensitive storage. Global warming recent 100-year global heat spike affects Arctic Region methane storage.
It is not fossil fuels (lignite, coal, oil, and natural gas) that produces heat. Rather, heating of fossil fuel hydrocarbons release methane compound that burns, which producers heat and greenhouse gases.
Growing levels of both carbon dioxide and methane pose a threat to continued survival of human races. Stratospheric aerosols also plays an important part in global warming. Modern global warming increasing rate of change has been disturbingly steep. Environmental adaptation to global warming has not gone well.
Effects of rising global temperatures are widespread and costly. Early global warming effects: more severe storms, rising seas, species extinctions, and changes in weather patterns that will alter food production and spread of disease.
When human races die from global warming it dies slowly, painfully, and with certainty. With increased global temperatures many areas experiences water decreases. Human food-chain does not well adapt to temperature increase and/or water cycle changes. End is as simple as a cascading unrecoverable food-chain collapse. More than nine billion people die 2050-2055.
Zero human greenhouse gases emissions could be achieved with significant nuclear energy expansion (which replaces greenhouse gases of fossil fuel energy). However, continued stability of Arctic Region methane hydrate compound is a global warming wild card. At any time, if Arctic Region methane hydrate compound becomes seriously unstable, there may occur methane gas eruption that could doom Earth's human races within a week.
Time critical global responses to global warming must be timely and measured. By mid 2013, U.S. Congress and world must do what it takes to stabilize global warming natural/human carbon and methane emissions. There must be global commitment to reducing global warming.
Global Warming Solution is to Recognize Cause
By 2014 the U.S. election should be about "global warming." Since U.S. politicians avoid discussing true costs of anything, politicians will continue to avoid disclosing true costs of global warming. To correct causes of global warming we might say global costs are about one-percent of a nation's gross domestic product (GDP). Others will have different approaches to global warming response funding but assuming "flat 1% GDP cost" gets past a lot of economic details. It is not economic details that matters, it is doing the right things to save human race from committing to assured ~2017 destruction that matters.
To avoid human race destruction requires global warming greenhouse gases peak 2020 and human greenhouse gases are zero (0) before 2050. There is no other global warming option.
It is global warming climate change conditions from now to 2050 that is most important as it directly relates to necessary changes for human survival. Continuing on current projected course of human and natural global warming emissions produces predictable milestone events; ~2017 human emissions exceed capacity of carbon cycle to process carbon and rate of global warming increases; ~2035 atmospheric carbon dioxide exceeds 450 ppm and human ability to save human race has decreased to about zero; finally, with politicians inability to adequately respond to need to decrease greenhouse gases, human race ends around 2050-2055. Without political "change," true cost of global warming is that everyone has been committed to dying at ~2017.
Nuclear energy is only clean energy source that can provide energy for global economic expansion. There are no technical reasons not to rapidly expand nuclear energy. If we are to achieve human greenhouse gas emissions-cap by 2020 and zero human emissions before 2050 -- nuclear energy is required. Continue use of fossil fuel destroys all human races 2050-2055.
