Global Warming rate may increase by 50% in the next two years

[InaneAnanity]

The Amazon rainforest is apparently on the brink of total collapse. See for yourself. The death of this ecosystem would result in massive CO2 emissions, speeding up Global warming dramatically.

"The research ­ carried out by the Massachusetts-based Woods Hole centre in Santarem on the Amazon river ­ has taken even the scientists conducting it by surprise. When Dr Dan Nepstead started the experiment in 2002 ­ by covering a chunk of rainforest the size of a football pitch with plastic panels to see how it would cope without rain ­ he surrounded it with sophisticated sensors, expecting to record only minor changes.

The trees managed the first year of drought without difficulty. In the second year, they sunk their roots deeper to find moisture, but survived. But in year three, they started dying. Beginning with the tallest the trees started to come crashing down, exposing the forest floor to the drying sun.

By the end of the year the trees had released more than two-thirds of the carbon dioxide they have stored during their lives, helping to act as a break on global warming. Instead they began accelerating the climate change.

As we report today on pages 28 and 29, the Amazon now appears to be entering its second successive year of drought, raising the possibility that it could start dying next year. The immense forest contains 90 billion tons of carbon, enough in itself to increase the rate of global warming by 50 per cent."

http://www.climateark.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=58635

[amitten]

1. Yay!

I'll sleep well tonight! Thanks!

And the best part is that I can do SO much to change it! :thumbsup:

[roguevalley]

20. you and me both, amitten. this will the the last one of these I open

in a long, long time.

rv, going to hide under her bed

[Erika]

2. Global warming has been hitting hard and heavy

Only the bushbots claim it doesn't exist. They don't want to be inconvenienced by the truth. Besides that, they can't handle reality.

[InaneAnanity]

3. The destruction of this rainforest...

...could be enough in and of itself to turn Europe into Siberia.

At that point the regressives will be singing a familar refrain. "So we were wrong (again), why blame anybody??"

[Erika]

5. The GOP refuse to think about children & grandchildren

They can't think beyond W's next tax break.

[global1]

4. So Do You Mean The Temperature Here In Chicago In Two Years .....

will be 150 degrees?

[InaneAnanity]

6. no...

50% increast in the rate of global warming. i.e. 50% increase in the amount of excess CO2 in the atmosphere. Not to meantion the death of an entire ecosystem and the probable extinction of thousands of species of plants and animals.

It could easily disrupt the gulf stream and turn Europe into Siberia.

[BuyingThyme]

7. If only "the rate of global warming" actually meant something.

[InaneAnanity]

8. Think of it as...

80 billion tons of CO2 released into the atmosphere.

[Erika]

9. very scary.

Most of the country acknowledges global warming. We just need a leader to address it. W and the GOP aren't it.

[lapfog_1]

10. It's a possible titration point.

Global Warming might not be gradual at all.

It might be rather sudden, withing a year or two, ten at most, once a certain sequence of events happens.

There is an immense amount of carbon stored in forests and in the oceans... if enough climate change happens to even just begin the release of this stored carbon... then you can have a runaway global reaction and untold billions of tons of carbon could make it's way to the atmosphere... and we would have NO time to react and possibly no way to reverse it or stop it. Even if we turned off every car and power plant. And that's how the race of humans passes from the scene, much like dinosaurs before us.

[Solon]

11. This is a post of mine from a day or so ago...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2747430&mesg_id=2748060

This is just speculation of course, but damned if I don't think it may actually be accurate! :(

[lapfog_1]

12. Dude - you and I need to both go for a drink

I'm older and have medical issues... so if it's only 10 years, well... that's OK. But the younger generations... I'm just so sad that this is what they will face.

I think it's too late to avert it... but I'd still be willing to try.

[acmejack]

15. Doesn't it make you feel it a little guilty?

I am old and share your problem with medical issues. I too am actually somewhat glad to be in the autumn of my life. I must admit to being a little glad that my life is almost over, for I feel the young shall face a most unpleasant future. A future they are totally unprepared to cope with, one few are even willing to admit is approaching.

My only solace is that I myself fathered no children, even before the specter of global warming life seemed too vile.

[deaniac21]

23. I'll bet you survive much longer than you predict. It's a well

known fact that happy people live longer!

[Solon]

21. Tell me about it, I'm 27, so I'm young enough to possibly...

witness the extinction of the Human Species, it can be depressing. Given my prediction, I'll only be about 57 by the time it comes around, that seems to be far off, but really isn't, to be honest, I don't know if I'll live to be 40, now THAT is depressing.

[hatrack]

19. True - it's a non-linear system nt

.

[krkaufman]

26. Right. Death of the Brazilian rainforest would not only ...

... wipeout a major consumer of carbon dioxide (i.e. the trees and vegetation), but the decomposition of the rainforest would expel the stored carbon back into the atmosphere. The proverbial double-whammy.

[KT2000]

13. The psychopathology of corporate america

Is there any better example of the insanity of the rich and powerful than their response to global warming.
We have been told to trust CEOs with our health and safety because "they have children too."

Their true colors are there for all to see now.

[rock]

14. "the size of a football pitch"

Anybody care to clue me in as to how large this is?

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

16. Less than two acres.

Not sure exactly how much less, though.

[Tesha]

17. A "football pitch" is a "soccer field" in Yankspeak. (NT)

[rock]

18. Gottcha

Thanks

[Rex]

22. We're slaying the giants of the world.

Ice caps, a rainforest, the oceans. One day it will be done and humans will have to find a new way to survive, if we can after the terraforming.

[Jim Warren]

24. We'll gonna need a new metaphor other than "snowball effect"

As the climate warms it further accelerates adverse effects. Another big issue is tundra regions thawing. Siberia alone is a million sq. miles and the methane held in frozen storage is tremendous.


How about dungball effect?

[gristy]

25. This is not science

As we report today on pages 28 and 29, the Amazon now appears to be entering its second successive year of drought, raising the possibility that it could start dying next year.

What pages 28 and 29?? There is no link to further reading (not counting the useless 2 paragraphs at "URL" on top), no link to a peer-reviewed article, no book, NO NOTHING.

THE OP's headline "Global Warming rate may increase by 50% in the next two years" certainly does NOT follow from this part of the linked "article":The immense forest contains 90 billion tons of carbon, enough in itself to increase the rate of global warming by 50 per cent.

This "article" was posted at least one other time on DU got about the same reaction. Folks, this is not science.

Global warming is real and its impact may well be catastrophic over time. But put your thinking caps on and make an effort to separate the facts from hyperbole.

[krkaufman]

27. Brokaw's recent Discovery channel special ...

... warned of the consequences of the current droughts on the Amazon rainforest. The scientist showed how he was monitoring the moisture retention of the rainforest soil, and it's not looking good.

[Benhurst]

28. Brokaw, having removed his nose from corporate BushAmerca's ass,

is finally doing what he should have been doing for the past 20 years.

Better late than never. But better too late than never? :shrug:

[krkaufman]

30. Well, based on some of the prognostications in this and other threads ...

... "better late than never" may not apply. Some apparently feel that it may already be too late. (link)

[AnnieBW]

29. If That Doesn't Scare You Enough

Read this about the toxic stew that our oceans are becoming.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/073106G.shtml