"Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at an all-time high, according to the World Meteorological Organization. The last time the Earth experienced concentrations of CO2 near today’s levels was millions of years ago when temperatures were 2-3 degrees Celsius warmer and than sea level was 10-20 meters higher. Scary? Yes. Yes, it is. – via NBC News"

On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 12:12:55 PM UTC+1, Alastair B. McDonald wrote:
"Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at an all-time high, according to the World Meteorological Organization. The last time the Earth experienced concentrations of CO2 near today’s levels was millions of years ago when temperatures were 2-3 degrees Celsius warmer and than sea level was 10-20 meters higher. Scary? Yes. Yes, it is. – via NBC News"

Scary? Nah, just more bollox.

On 28/11/2019 11:12, Alastair B. McDonald wrote:
"Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at an all-time high, according to the World Meteorological Organization. The last time the Earth experienced concentrations of CO2 near today’s levels was millions of years ago when temperatures were 2-3 degrees Celsius warmer and than sea level was 10-20 meters higher. Scary? Yes. Yes, it is. – via NBC News"


Why are temperatures and sea levels not higher?

On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 11:53:33 AM UTC, Weather or Not wrote:
On 28/11/2019 11:12, Alastair B. McDonald wrote:
"Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at an all-time high, according to the World Meteorological Organization. The last time the Earth experienced concentrations of CO2 near today’s levels was millions of years ago when temperatures were 2-3 degrees Celsius warmer and than sea level was 10-20 meters higher. Scary? Yes. Yes, it is. – via NBC News"


Why are temperatures and sea levels not higher?

Time lag. The increase in levels of CO2 (and other greenhouse gases) has been so rapid the worlds climate has to catch up.

We have committed ourselves to the sort of change outlined above. Jst to help it along the tropical rainforests are being destroyed at a record rate, whilst big Corporations are somehow claiming tree planting to offset their CO2 emissions.

Then as I walk into the sea of single use plastics that is the modern supermarket, apparently it's all fine because they are cuting back on plastic straws.

It's a mad world (which was a great track, though I prefer the angry sounding Tears for Fears original to Gary Jules depressing version.)

Graham
Penzance

On 28/11/2019 11:53, Weather or Not wrote:
On 28/11/2019 11:12, Alastair B. McDonald wrote:
Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* "Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at an all-time high,
according to the World Meteorological Organization. The last time the
Earth experienced concentrations of CO2 near today’s levels was
millions of years ago when temperatures were 2-3 degrees Celsius
warmer and than sea level was 10-20 meters higher. Scary? Yes. Yes, it
is. – via NBC News"

Why are temperatures and sea levels not higher?

The same reason that June, when the sun is highest in the sky is not the
hottest month of the year in the UK. Thermal inertia matters.

The oceans have immense thermal inertia and so the response to today's
GHG forcing lags behind. When the oceans do eventually catch up with the
equilibrium conditions appropriate to the present levels of CO2 in the
atmosphere sea levels will be higher. A some future warming is already
locked in even if we stopped the CO2 level from rising tomorrow.

However, as things stand the oceans are chasing a moving target since
CO2 levels and other GHG contributions continue to rise year on year.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

Then as I walk into the sea of single use plastics that is the modern supermarket, apparently it's all fine because they are cutting back on plastic straws.

Just in case anyone was under the misapprehension that the amount of single use plastics in supermarkets was being reduced.
https://inews.co.uk/news/consumer/su...-tesco-1326359

Why do people buy veg pumped full of CO2 & wrapped in plastic? Buy the free range unpackaged options and that's what supermarkets will provide, better still use a greengrocers, like Thornes in Penzance. Far less plastic & a lower carbon footprint. https://www.facebook.com/Thornesfrui...type=1&theater

Even in the early 1980s 90% of milk was still delivered in glass bottles. Dropped to a low of 3% in 2016, helped by supermarkets selling milk below cost to drive out corner shops & milkmen. It's finally rising again.

Sadly, I think preventing significant climate change has become a lost cause, it's all a bit too late now. We can still low the change a bit & we can do something about plastics, a bit like the ozone layer & CFCs.

Sunny intervals & showers today.

Graham
Penzance

On Thursday, 28 November 2019 17:10:15 UTC, Graham Easterling wrote:

Sadly, I think preventing significant climate change has become a lost cause, it's all a bit too late now. We can still low the change a bit & we can do something about plastics, a bit like the ozone layer & CFCs.

Yes! This comment appeared in Nature yesterday:

https://www.nature.com/articles/d415...AF62A2845106CA

All it needs is a big melt of the Arctic sea ice next summer and we are al toast.

On 28/11/2019 17:36, Alastair B. McDonald wrote:
On Thursday, 28 November 2019 17:10:15 UTC, Graham Easterling
wrote:

Sadly, I think preventing significant climate change has become a
lost cause, it's all a bit too late now. We can still low the
change a bit & we can do something about plastics, a bit like the
ozone layer & CFCs.

I don't see any political will to do the right thing. It will be
expensive to undo if the climate snaps to another attractor with much
less water locked in land based glaciers on Greenland and Antarctica.

There is a fair amount of hysteresis in the system once the albedo of
the permanent polar ice regions changes from being white ice and snow.

Yes! This comment appeared in Nature yesterday:

https://www.nature.com/articles/d415...AF62A2845106CA

All it needs is a big melt of the Arctic sea ice next summer and we
are al toast.

ITYM "sous-vide" or "poached".

Some of us live more than 10m above mean sea level...

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On 28/11/2019 11:12, Alastair B. McDonald wrote:
"Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at an all-time high, according to the World Meteorological Organization. The last time the Earth experienced concentrations of CO2 near today’s levels was millions of years ago when temperatures were 2-3 degrees Celsius warmer and than sea level was 10-20 meters higher. Scary? Yes. Yes, it is. – via NBC News"


You never know, this may be showing the final "falling off a cliff" loss
of global sea-ice.
https://sites.google.com/site/arctischepinguin/home/sea-ice-extent-area/grf/nsidc_global_extent_byyear_b.png
Maybe just the 1995 trace was more preecipious at this time of year
previously.


--
Monthly public talks on science topics, Hampshire , England
http://diverse.4mg.com/scicaf.htm

On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 1:27:58 PM UTC, Martin Brown wrote:
On 28/11/2019 11:53, Weather or Not wrote:
On 28/11/2019 11:12, Alastair B. McDonald wrote:
Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* "Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at an all-time high,
according to the World Meteorological Organization. The last time the
Earth experienced concentrations of CO2 near today’s levels was
millions of years ago when temperatures were 2-3 degrees Celsius
warmer and than sea level was 10-20 meters higher. Scary? Yes. Yes, it
is. – via NBC News"

Why are temperatures and sea levels not higher?

The same reason that June, when the sun is highest in the sky is not the
hottest month of the year in the UK. Thermal inertia matters.

The oceans have immense thermal inertia and so the response to today's
GHG forcing lags behind. When the oceans do eventually catch up with the
equilibrium conditions appropriate to the present levels of CO2 in the
atmosphere sea levels will be higher. A some future warming is already
locked in even if we stopped the CO2 level from rising tomorrow.

However, as things stand the oceans are chasing a moving target since
CO2 levels and other GHG contributions continue to rise year on year.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

What about clouds and cloudiness?
Must play a significant, unspecified as yet, role.

Len
Wembury