Peer reviewed data shows climate change

It’s not surprising that climate change deniers would rely on discredited Austrian physicist Siegfried F. Singer. As noted in his New York Times obituary, Singer was one of “a small group of scientists” promoted by tobacco and other industries “to muddy the truth on climate change and other environmental risks, including secondhand smoke, asbestos and acid rain.”

Like climate change deniers, the secondhand smoke, asbestos and acid rain skeptics cared more about perpetuating particular industries than about human health and safety.

Based on rigorous studies, vetted through the peer review process, by the world’s leading legitimate scientists in the relevant fields, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration have reached important conclusions that we ignore at our peril.

First, although the earth has been gradually warming for over 21,500 years, the warming has drastically accelerated in the last 150 years of industrial activity.

“The 10 warmest years on record (since 1880) have all occurred since 1998, and all but one happened since 2005.”

Second, carbon dioxide has reached its highest levels in our atmosphere in 800,000 years (based on analysis of arctic ice core samples).

Third, the 2 degrees Fahrenheit increase in average global temperature since the 1880s “might seem small, but it means a significant increase in accumulated heat,” resulting in “sea ice loss, accelerated sea level rise, and longer, more intense heat waves,” as well as more destructive storms and wildfires.

Fourth, although carbon dioxide plays a necessary beneficial role in the environment, too much of a good thing can become deadly. Producing more CO2 than plants can absorb is “supercharging the natural greenhouse effect, causing global temperature to rise,” resulting in a “cascade of weather impacts, including episodes of extreme heat, drought and wildfire activity, as well as heavier precipitation, flooding and tropical storm activity”—also, increased ocean acidity and deoxygenation.

Fifth, “Carbon dioxide concentrations are rising mostly because of the fossil fuels that people are burning for energy.”

JAMES C. TODD

Ashberry Trail