Archaea - Ancient kingdom
LP”s view was not dissimilar about scientific consensus relating to climate change, and was somewhat in sync with experts in the field of studying global warming. Overwhelming they agree through peer review publications, and come to the conclusion - Man made carbon emissions are contributing, and increasing the risk of further adverse climate change that will impact on civilisation throughout the 21st. Century. LP calculated in two other possibilities - global dimming from a three kilometre layer of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, and methane producing Archaea seldom mentioned in mainstream thought relating to climate change. LP formed his own view, not peer reviewed, but still valid if researched - The greatest risk to our way of life are the ancient ones - Archaea, and warming oceans, already on the rise as the perma-frost melts in the Arctic accelerating the problem.
The awakening of Archaea and the thinning of the Arctic ice shelf will exacerbate global warming, and is a potent mix that will cause a rapid rise of methane in the atmosphere, thirty times more potent than carbon. Natural carbon sink holes can’t absorb the burning of fossil fuels fast enough, let alone the release of unsustainable amounts of methane as well. With the planet’s eco- system out of balance with the natural order of things of past centuries, methane, from thawing tundra, the ocean floor as oceans warm, due to the lower layer of the atmosphere radiating heat back to Earth, scientists refer to as - the greenhouse effect, a recipe for disaster.
Climate scientists have been vilified by skeptics and climate-change denialist. LP figured unless the fact that 97% of peer review research by scientists, in their field of expertise relating to factual current data, is accepted relating to global warming, and not negated by propaganda peddled by media on behalf of big business, nothing will change. He hoped social media would get the truth out, and negate the influence of media barons who rely on advertising dollars from corporations, and hence vet any negative reporting that may impact on their clients. It’s not their business to save the planet only report news that sells papers, hold viewers to the six o’clock news, and deliver a profit at the end of the day to shareholders.
It seemed obvious data relating to global warming has been suppressed and you could only hope the truth would get out somehow. It looked like even 100% consensus will not sway those with power and influence. What the public needs to do is get behind the facts, and protest for change, relating to scientific data from experts in their field of study (climate change) who overwhelming agreed through peer review publications, there is a real threat to civilisation as we know it.
LP’s research on global dimming didn’t negate global warming. What it meant is the sun is going through a period of lower solar activity, which would have plunged the world into a mini ice age, similar to the one in the middle of the last millennium, if not for carbon build-up in the atmosphere.
What has occurred more so in the northern hemisphere is the build-up of greenhouse gasses in the lower stratosphere. Good for plant growth, but bad as the ocean warms, and the North Pole, in particular, melts, not so good news. What this also means as glacier’s retreat and tundra in the north becomes exposed, algae like blooms will become more prevalent. The ancients - from the Greek word - Archaea are returning, and their contribution is methane, more potent than burning fossil fuels. If left unchecked will return the world to their kingdom like billions of years ago.
LP thoughts rolled back to 2010, a time of extreme weather, not only in Australia but throughout the world. It was Earth’s most turbulent weather since 1816. The Amazon experienced its second one hundred year drought in one hundred years. With unabated clearing of the rainforest, the ability for it to remain a major factor in absorbing carbon, is under major threat through land clearing and burning. Its role in this complex biosphere is clear. It takes out two billion tons of Co2 out of the atmosphere a year. But due to drought in 2005 caused a net five billion tons to enter the atmosphere. The Amazon as well stores carbon dioxide in soil and biomass equal to almost fifteen years of human causing emissions, which may well be released if global warming measured by carbon in the atmosphere exceeds 350ppm (parts per million). It’s already hit 400ppm in March 2015 in some parts of the world.
Pakistan was hit hard by flooding that killed thousands of people and displacing twenty million citizens.
Moscow scorched under its worst heat wave in late June.
Extreme heat wave conditions in the Arctic is making it hotter than cities across Europe and North America.
2011fared no better with drought, wildfires, famine, and earthquakes to name a few. Christchurch, New Zealand, and even worst, Japan was hit with a 8.9-magnitude earthquake causing a tsunami engulfing Fukushima and taking out its nuclear power plant. It was estimated 15,000 people died.
Drought throughout East Africa impacting, Kenya, Somalia, Ethropia, Erithea and Djbouti in June and July caused wide spread famine accounting for deaths of tens of thousands of children.
The Philippines was hit hard in December, by a severe tropical storm bucketing down so much rain in such a short time, caused widespread flooding, and a death toll in the thousands.
In April tornadoes ripped through the Alabama region, causing severe damage and many deaths. And on May 22nd. another tornado destroyed the town of Joplin, Missouri.
2012 played out with more severe weather, fires storms and earthquakes.
In January of 2013 Cyclone Oswald struck the North Queensland coast, causing extensive property and crop damage North Queensland as well as major flooding. Severe flooding occured after Mexico was hit by hurricane Ingrid, and in North America, Oklahoma bore the full impact of a severe tornado killing twenty-four people, destroying homes and infrastructure in May. Typhoon Haiyan more destructive and larger than Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused a four metre storm surge in November resulting in wide spread damage to roads, water sanitation and infrastructure. The storm displaced millions of people and killed hundreds in the Philippines.
LP’s view of these so-called natural disasters are not so natural. They are more intense and more often. Looking back over the past fifteen years and comparing statistical data going back over the past one hundred years, showed an increase in extreme weather, even taking into account the scientific view relating to Australia going through a one hundred year cycle of more dry than wet. This assessment was too simplistic in explaining away drought and wildfires as the norm. They were happening too often and more chaotic in nature - Not only in Australia but throughout the world.
Without exception, 2014 brought more flooding in places like the Solomon Islands, Bosnia and Pakistan to name a few. Typhoons hit the Philippines, earthquakes in Yannan Provence, China, and throughout the world billions of people were sensing something was wrong, and could be seen, expressed in anxiety and violence as the temperature rises. The climate looked like spiraling out of control. If you join the dots, you’d get - Global Warming, caused by man made burning of fossil fuels - creating the perfect storm.
News reports attributed heat waves in 2015 killing close to fifty five thousand people throughout the world. And it was predicted, heat wave activity will increase ten fold by the year 2100 if global warming is not abated.
2016 gave no reprieve from famine, earthquakes, fire storms, tornadoes, cyclones and typhoons across the globe.
