A very recently-released study would indicate that all people or groups who have sought to create confusion through denying anthropogenic climate change should provide us with an apology.
The interaction of light and carbon dioxide has been known for almost two centuries; beginning with Fourier 1827, Tyndall 1859, and Arrhenius 1896. David Keeling began to measure atmospheric carbon dioxide from 1957.
It has been possible to show through experimentation that a warming relationship applies between light and carbon dioxide exists. But now, in late February 2015 it has been shown that carbon dioxide is a definite greenhouse gas. Data was collected over an eleven year period from two sites, one in Alaska and the other in Oklahoma.
Quote:
“The data were used by scientists from the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, who were able to measure atmospheric carbon dioxide’s increasing capacity to absorb thermal radiation emitted from the Earth’s surface over an 11-year period at ARM research sites in Oklahoma and Alaska. The researchers attributed this upward trend to rising carbon dioxide levels from fossil fuel emissions.”
From: http://www.arm.gov/news/features/post/32853
Already there have been many practical examples of the climate warming; ranging from permafrost thawing causing thermokarst failure, boundaries of disease-bearing mosquitoes extending their range, glaciers in retreat or dying out altogether, extreme weather events, ice sheets retreating, and more. Currently off the West Coast of the United States anomalously warm ocean currents are having a huge impact on marine organisms.
Natural News suggests:
“The makings of a mass-level extinction event in the world’s oceans appear disturbingly imminent, as marine species after marine species washes ashore on the Pacific West Coast.”
From: http://www.naturalnews.com/046374_West_Coast_marine_animals_global_extinction.html#
Robertscribbler suggests some of the science behind the unprecedented death rates of a number of species.
https://robertscribbler.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/starving-sea-lion-pups-and-liquified-starfish-how-were-turning-the-eastern-pacific-into-a-death-trap-for-marine-species/?blogsub=confirming#subscribe-blog
He writes:
“This shut down of overturning is a dangerous oceanic condition called stratification. And it can level a severe blow to almost all creatures along the marine food chain. Plankton become less productive. Low oxygen zones expand, killing the slow-moving bottom creatures all while driving the mobile fish to more productive waters. In the warmer waters, toxic algae blooms become more prevalent. Harmful microbes, which are culled during influxes of cold water, thrive and multiply, posing a disease threat to all marine species. “
The waters discussed by Robertscribbler are between two and five degrees higher than usual. The warm waters extend along the West Coast as far as the Bering Strait.
In conclusion, the paper presented by ARM shows how carbon dioxide derived from fossil fuel is a greenhouse gas. The source of carbon dioxide can be established through the isotopes displayed. Even though temperatures might not seem to be particularly high they can have a serious impact.
The other aspect is that warming oceans can have a deleterious impact on marine life which has an impact on the carrying capacity of Earth.
*Keith Antonysen is a retired Social Worker. Keen gardener and recreational fisher. The Vietnam War and later the flooding of Lake Pedder created an interest in politics which led to a passion for social justice issues. Currently very concerned about lack of action on climate change. Not a paid up member of any Political Party.
