Warming nears point of no return, scientists say ( .. and then We'RE REallY ReallY DooMeD!!)

SFGate.com ^ | 6/7/12 | David Perlman

[NormsRevenge]

The Earth is reaching a "tipping point" in climate change that will lead to increasingly rapid and irreversible destruction of the global environment unless its forces are controlled by concerted international action, an international group of scientists warns.

Unchecked population growth, the disappearance of critical plant and animal species, the over-exploitation of energy resources, and the rapidly warming climate are all combining to bring mounting pressure on the Earth's environmental health, they say.

Scientists from five nations, led by UC Berkeley biologist Anthony Barnosky, report their analysis Thursday in the journal Nature.

They likened the potential impact of the forces to previous major changes - both gradual and abrupt - in the planet's history that triggered mass extinctions and expansions, and produced completely new worldwide environments.

The most recent of those was the sporadic end of the last ice age that began 14,000 years ago and shifted rapidly from warm to cold and then back to warm again over a few thousand years. That period saw the extinction of half the world's large animal life, and then the spread of an expanding human population to every continent on the planet.

Difficult to reverse

A similar "critical transition" is occurring now, Barnosky's scientists maintain, and they warn that once it starts, it will be "extremely difficult or even impossible for the system to return to its previous state."

[aruanan]

The most recent of those was the sporadic end of the last ice age that began 14,000 years ago and shifted rapidly from warm to cold and then back to warm again over a few thousand years. That period saw the extinction of half the world's large animal life, and then the spread of an expanding human population to every continent on the planet.

As though all those large animal species evolved to their then-current glacial period size over a measly 100,000 or so years since the previous (and increasingly warmer) past four interglacial periods. Those large land mammals got fried by radiation from a huge zeta-pinch aurora (see PDFs number 15, 18, 24, and 25 at link) about 12,000 or so years ago.

[UCANSEE2]

They likened the potential impact of the forces to previous major changes - both gradual and abrupt - in the planet's history that triggered mass extinctions and expansions, and produced completely new worldwide environments.

They say that like it's a bad thing (to quote about twenty different Freepers).

Besides, it just how EARTH works. Adapt or die. All the money in the world cannot change it.

[Stosh]

Anybody who follows this stuff consistently can tell you we reach this “tipping point” every couple of months - and more frequently if there’s a “climate change” conference coming up.

For example, from a news story on the “United Nations Climate Change Science Compendium Report” (UNEP) right around the time of the Copenhagen conference: “The UNEP 2009 report indicates that climate tipping points, which will result in irreversible accelerating changes to the planetary ecosystem, have already been been reached and possibly surpassed.”

So apparently we’ve already been there, we are now three years into being doomed, and there’s not much point in losing a whole lot more sleep over it.

[Paladin2]

"Unchecked population growth"

Well, all those concerned with large C footprints here in the US should seriously consider merging themselves with the Universe to save Gaia.

[rockinqsranch]

YOU forgot relinquishing our sovereignty, and turning over governance to the U.N.

[Da Coyote]

Bull Obama!!!

[UCANSEE2]

The latest sunspot cycle is the weakest in 100 years.

Weak sunspot cycles historically are accompanied by an increase in Solar Flares .

[SunkenCiv]

They passed the point of no return on their reputations long ago.

Thanks NormsRevenge.

[bigred44]

I guess it’s all over for Earth. I think we should chip in to send these scientists to colonize a planet where global warming is in check: Mars.

I’m in for 100 bucks.

[Vendome]

AaaaaaahhhhhhhhHHHH!!!!!!!!

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

THe Moslem extremists and religious fanatics, aided by the Communists, are doing their damnest to lower the world’s population. Funny. I don’t here the envirowackos complaining about this genocide.

[UnwashedPeasant]

"The Earth is reaching a "tipping point" in climate change"

Didn't the Left say this in the 1970s about global cooling and the coming ice age?

[Mama Shawna]

they certainly know that there were many periods of time in earth history, some recent, when warming was greater than the modest increase ending in 1998, sometimes much, MUCH greater and there was no "point of no return," but a return to colder, sometimes much, MUCH colder climates. They also know that there were many periods in earth's history where CO2 levels were many times greater than they are now and there was no "point of no return," but an overall trend to lower and lower levels of atmospheric CO2 until we are where we are now in a period of unprecedented low levels of CO2. Since they know that both of these things are without dispute, and since they continue to promote something that is completely contradictory to natural history, then we know that they are deceptive, untrustworthy, unscientific, and deserving to be thrown out on their asses and then locked up in jail for fraud.

I just added that to my profile page on facebook under 'religion' (I put my religion as the 'Cult of Global Warming') and just added that portion of your quote to it. Thank you! (I hope it's ok... :)

[Chgogal]

Does that mean no more Ice Ages?

Yippee, if so.

[UnwashedPeasant]

I can envision AlGore in tights and a cape as EarthBoy, prancing out to save us.

[Puckster]

Why oh why can’t these beautiful sages of our times be leaders by example and leave their condo’s and seaside mansions and show us poor, ignorant, beings the way.......

I mean, I would be more than interested to watch and learn....it might take me a while though...I am really dense.

I might even seek investors and create a new TV genre and call it a “Reality Show” which would chronicle their wisdom of example.

Any takers?

[Graewoulf]

Duh, wasn’t the “Medieval Warm” a lot warmer than it is today?

BTW, if we are going to be cooler than the Medieval Warm when we reach our “Point of No Return,” then maybe we can follow them after they reached and then returned from their “Point of No Return?”

BTW, BTW, since CO2 was unknown then, who did the “Medieval Warmies” blame? Since human nature doesn’t handle REALITY very well, they just MUST have had something or someone to blame!

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Unchecked population growth, the disappearance of critical plant and animal species,

Oh i think we could do without radical Muslim's And poison ivy ,oak and sumac I don't have a beef with animals they are tasty and some are fun to watch ..

[dagogo redux]

Well, yeah, but all I really care about is whether the snail darter is likely to survive.

[Road Glide]

“The Earth is reaching a “tipping point” in climate change that will lead to increasingly rapid and irreversible destruction of the global environment...”

Is that all there is?
Is that all there is?
Well if that’s all there is,
Let’s break out the booze and have a ball...
If that’s all...

(Apologies to Ms. Peggy Lee)