Nova – Arctic Sinkholes

If you have read my blogs, you know that one of my biggest concerns is around permafrost melting and the release of huge amounts of methane and CO2 as that layer warms, breaking down the organic matter.  A new Nova program, Arctic Melting https://www.pbs.org/video/arctic-sinkholes-9jwenj/  discusses what scientists are learning about this problem and although another … Read more

Welcome 2022

Well, it is 2022 and we have a lot on our plate to distract us from thinking about Climate Change.  It is what we humans do; pay attention to the biggest perceived problem in front of us and let less immediate issues stay on the sidelines.  Right now it is Omicron, in the US it … Read more

Don’t Look Up

(I just watched Don’t Look Up, which is a satire that is, in my opinion, focused on the absurdity of our actions in light of the challenges coming from Climate Change.  Following is an article/review commentary from the climate scientist Peter Kalmus – SZ) I’m a climate scientist. Don’t Look Up captures the madness I … Read more

Cumulative Vulnerability – more issues keep coming

In a year that has seen the disastrous effects of climate change unfold with frightening speed — from drought and famine to heat domes, wildfires and deadly flash flooding — another potential catastrophe has come into view: depleted oxygen levels in the world’s oceans and lakes that threaten marine life. “As ocean and atmospheric scientists … Read more

The Time Lag of Climate Change

(This article is from Earth.Org posted in Aug 2020 but remains very relevant in regards to the lag time from when GHGs are discharged until when they are fully felt in the climate.  Bottom line is that we are experiencing CO2 and methane emissions that are from 2010 and today’s emissions will not be felt … Read more

COP26 Agreement Summary

(Below is a summary from worldwarzero.com of what was agreed to at COP26.  Despite my rather dark (and arguably realist) comments in regards to the realities of Climate Change and its potential impact, some real progress has been made.  Will it be enough?  Let’s hope so!  SZ) So, what’s in this agreement and why does it matter? … Read more

Things we don’t think about

With all the news around COP26 and focus on the Poles and island nations submerging, we miss the places where climate change is chipping away at key resources and threatening millions.  One example is Peru, who depends on rapidly shrinking glaciers for its water supply.  Peru is a desert but has survived on the slow … Read more

2.4 deg C rise (if we are lucky)

Look, let’s get real.  If we do everything possible to convert society towards zero emissions by 2050 (and this is a big if), then we can hope to achieve a 2.4 deg C average rise in global temps.  Remember, this is average, which means lower over oceans but significantly higher over land and at the … Read more

We Can Beat Climate Change If We Do One Thing Fast

(As noted in my last post, there are lots of articles being presented due to the awareness around COP26.  This article discusses the urgent need to convert to all electric households and transportation which I have been pointing out throughout my posts.  That said, we are already seeing the effects of 1.1 deg C change … Read more

Climate Change, the Great Displacer

(This article from Statista is one of many coming out during COP26 since so much of the World’s attention is for the moment, focused on Climate Change.  I would argue that is ignores population growth as a primary driver of water scarcity which is exacerbated by climate change along with sea level rise.  In India … Read more