MYTH: The Earth has warmed rapidly in the past without dire consequences, so society and ecosystems can adapt readily to any foreseeable warming.
FACT: The Earth experienced rapid warming in some places at the end of the last glacial period, but for the last 10,000 years our global climate has
been relatively stable. During this period, as agriculture and civilization developed, the world's population has grown tremendously. Now, many
heavily populated areas, such as urban centers in low-lying coastal zones, are highly vulnerable to climate shifts.
In addition, many ecosystems and species that are already threatened by existing pressures (such as pollution, habitat conversion and degradation) may
be further pressured to the point of extinction by a changing climate.
MYTH: Because of the uncertainty of climate models, it is extremely difficult to predict exactly what regional impacts will result from global climate
change.
FACT: According to the IPCC, certain climate trends are highly likely to occur if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current rate or increase:
sea level will rise; droughts will increase in some areas, flooding in others; temperatures will rise, leading to heat waves becoming more common and
glaciers likely to melt at a more rapid rate.
Regional impacts are very likely to occur, but exactly when and what they will be is harder to predict. This is because 1) regional climate models are
more computer intensive than global climate models - they take longer to run and are more difficult to calibrate, and 2) many non-climate factors
contribute to impacts at regional levels. For example, the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses like Dengue fever and malaria may rise due to increased
temperatures, but the actual likelihood of infection will depend greatly on the effectiveness of public health measures in place.
In recent years, the quality of regional climate projections has improved substantially and continues to improve. Understanding regional climate
change impacts in detail will be extremely important in adapting to the negative effects of climate change. For now, what is clear is that almost all
the regions of the world will be negatively affected by climate change, necessitating that the global community act to mitigate and prepare for
climate change.
www.environmentaldefense.org...
www.meteor.iastate.edu...
CMD, this what I found on globle warming myth, and facts.
[Edited on 2-5-2004 by SpittinCobra]
[Edited on 2-5-2004 by SpittinCobra]
