Scientists reveal direct devastation of climate change
Flooding in Louisiana (photo courtesy of NOAA)
(CNS): Human-caused climate warming was a significant and measurable factor in the torrential rains that unleashed devastating floods in south Louisiana last month. Scientists with NOAA and World Weather Attribution (WWA) who conducted a rapid assessment of the role of climate on the historic heavy rain event were able to measure the impact of heat-trapping greenhouse gases on the weather, doubling the probability of the storm happening. While the study focused on one area along the US Gulf coast, the results have much wider implications for all low-lying areas, including Cayman.
“We found human-caused, heat-trapping greenhouse gases can play a measurable role in events such as the August rains that resulted in such devastating floods, affecting so many people,” said Karin van der Wiel, a research associate at NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory and the lead author. “While we concluded that 40 percent is the minimum increase in the chances of such rains, we found that the most likely impact of climate change is a near doubling of the odds of such a storm.”
The research focused on the central US Gulf Coast, and investigated events as strong as that observed at the height of the recent storm in mid-August to provide a regional context and a broader assessment of risk.
The results of the study demonstrated the direct impact man is having on the planet’s weather in just one location but it has far wider implications. The Cayman Islands and numerous other low-lying islands and coastal regions around the world are on the frontline of climate change and are particularly vulnerable to the twin threats of rising sea-levels and weather events likely to cause flooding.
Sea levels have risen 6 to 8 inches in the past 100 years, and Antarctica has been losing more than 100 cubic kilometers of ice per year since 2002. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that by the year 2100, sea levels will rise as much as 20 inches.
Earlier this year scientists reported that five tiny Pacific islands have literally disappeared due to rising seas and erosion, a discovery thought to be the first scientific confirmation of the impact of climate change on coastlines in the Pacific. But many more islands around the world are at risk, from the Cape Verde Islands to the Maldives and Tangier Islands in Chesapeake Bay, as world governments consistently fall short in taking the dramatic action required to address the warming of the planet.
Category: Science & Nature, Weather
99% of all species on earth have gone extinct and it is do to climate change. This year alone another species of animal went extinct do to rising water levels caused by global warming. Climate change is real and it will effect you someway or another and if you do not adapt then you die.
And if you adapt, you will also die. Just sayin. So far, everyone, except for those currently alive, has died.
White, westerner bullshit theory which they demand the rest of the world to regard as fact and truth.
Sorry, but someone has to finally say it.
Finally bro. Really. The anti science group has been vocal a long time. Glad you’re all caught up now.
BTW, how many feet above sea level are your investments?
Tell the people dying due to heat waves or displaced due to water levels rising that its bullshit. Pull you head out of the sand.
-Isme
People die of heat stroke from heat waves every year. What are you getting at? You need to pull your head out of your @$$.
So says the racist
The BBC “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey” and NOVA “Earth From Space” documentaries will teach you a thing or two.
There is no such a thing as fact and truth and never will be. We will never know the origins of our existence or how this al all worlds operate. But one episode of the former documentary specifically talks about climate change from the Cosmos perspective. I don’t think you will have arguments after watching it. But if you do, share it with us.
Going to the beach as often as you can to enjoy your time on this earth is the best thing to do.
You really need to consult a geologist to explain the geological history of earth in detail and how the majority of all of this climate change hysteria is hogwash. There is no doubt that the industrialization of the world over the past 200 years has had some effect, however all of these alarmists forget to consider that there are two other events which are affecting the world’ warming and weather being the natural cyclic warming and cooling of earth which has occurred regularly 32 times since ‘KT’ cretacrous tertiary event in earth’s history and then there is the switching or reversal of the magnetic poles of earth which is a random process which we are now experiencing affecting world wide weather. The magnetic poles are currently weakening and the poles are actually moving.
You mention Co2 being the evil root cause of all our problems when Co2 is the reason for life on earth and without it we would not exist. Co2 is currently at measured levels of 380-400ppm around the world however it is important to note and understand that there has been many periods in earths history when Co2 levels of over 2000ppm in the carboniserous period when the world was flourishing and then there are ice cores from Greenland with Co2 levels of over 1000ppm. the last 600,000 years. What is interesting is that there is no direct correlation that has been proven between Co2 and temperature. Many researchers are predicting a cooling of temperatures due to reduction of sun activity.
OK, that’s good. You can live on the ground floor. Great theory but wont stop the water coming.
One big problem with your theory is that the world is only 10,000 years old. How do you answer that?
There are trees older than that.
-Isme
Well, well that’s just a mistake! Those trees are wrong!
FYI- Oxygen becomes toxic to humans when at certain pressures / amounts.
To say that CO2 can’t be a problem because it’s necessary for life belies your complete lack of understanding of science and facts. A direct correlation isn’t “proven” because there are a multitude of dynamic factors. CO2 is one of them. You may want to actually read the science.
-Isme
I wouldn’t be surprised if our the leaders of Cayman didn’t recognize the effects climate change have had because they don’t believe it. They cant for a second think climate change is a possibility when in fact there planning on destroying our coral reef.
I skipped across majority of this because im sweeping under the rug myself, But on the other hand I do care.
You are funny. I like you.
If Carbon Dioxide is to blame, then we should hold governments and banks accountable because their laws and finance structures have presided over the destruction of our planet. If they really cared, the governments and banks would have done a lot more to encourage the proliferation of organic, healthy and renewable solutions.
As it is, they have done nothing and who do they want to blame? Yes, us, that’s right.
These psychopaths will not stop until they have chipped each one of us so we can pay our Carbon Tax.
Bunk…One volcanic eruption produces 30,000 metric tonnes of Co2 into the atmosphere. There are over 1500 active volcanoes on the planet not to mention the ones that are under the oceans. All the people on the planet exhaling, driving automobiles and industrial 20,000 metric tonnes per month. So you see that 1 of the 3,000+ active volcanoes produce more Co2 emissions than all human activity in a month. You do the math…Man Made Climate Change is a Hoax. Wake Up!
Thank you for the warning that you were about to write bunk!
United States Geological Survey (USGS) found that the estimated amount of CO2 generated annually by human activity is 135 times higher than volcanic activity.
http://www.snopes.com/volcano-carbon-emissions
Snopes is a political liar.
And the USGS?
Here is some actual published scientific research.
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/file_mngr/file-154/Gerlach-2011-EOS_AGU.pdf
What is your source? Put up,or shut up!
10:04 – Clearly you have no clue. Snipes is a website run by a crazy woman and her cat. The site it truly BUNK. Wake Up!
I gave the Snopes link because I figured you were too stupid to handle any big words, but you can go read the original scientific research in the sources she provides, including the USGS.
yeah… it’s a big consipiracy involving 99% of the scientists in the world…….zzzzzzzzzzz
Yep. Humans are not the cause of global warming. As anonymous says, volcanoes eject large amounts of unwanted gases into the atmosphere. Scientists point out that one large volcano can eject more unwanted gasses than all humans have produced since they have been on the planet earth. Think about it. We’re being misled by our so-called leaders.
PS you are talking about major eruptions not little burps. When was the last time we had a major eruption.
Ummm they are happening all the time. The crazy scientist are using the lava to get higher readings on their scientific thermometers.
For starters, go to: https://www.google.com/?client=firefox-b#q=active+volcanoes
Wake up sheople. Fire can’t melt steel! Well all be fine once they arrest George Bush.
simple question for any cayman politician:
how much have sea levels risen in cayman over the last 30 years?
if they don’t have an answer…they should resign immediatley…..
Simple follow on question: How much do you think they have risen, and what is your data source?
not my job bobo….
I’ve been on the island for half that time and we had a lot more beachfront on 7 mile back in 2000. I remember it being quite a walk from the hotel I worked at to the water. Now, there seems to only be about half the beach it used to have in 2000. You can really see Global Warming just from this island…
Sand washing away =/= Global Warming.
if trends continue…it is generally agreed miami will dissappear before the end of the century…..what do you think will happen to cayman???????
Just combine the One Mile Sea Swim with Batabanoo Butt parade. Problem solved.
They will issue more work permits.
meanwhile in cayman…our great leaders stick their heads in the sand…..
when was the last time you heard a cayman politician discuss climate change or it’s consequences???….
We are too small to make a significant impact against global warming, and even to contribute towards it. The most we could do is to reduce fossil fuel consumption as that puts greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. A better and cleaner alternative would be to utilize solar, wind and tidal renewable energy sources. For vehicles, Tesla has proven the electronic car capability, not even to mention self-driving.
That’s fine 8.26 however whilst you are building those you may notice the water lapping around your feet. Seawalls needed. Now.
yeah…the too small to make a difference bs…just like the compass editorial….
what happens if every country/town/village of 100k people thought the same????
use your brain!
“No snowflake thinks it is responsible for the avalanche”
The editor of the compass is clever, but not wise.
Trump needs to build walls for all of us to keep the weather out. CIG should really start to focus on this…should have done about 20 years ago but hey ho…that will be someone else problem. Ours.