Loss of Planet Reflectivity an Impending Catastrophe

[Judi Lynn]

Loss of Planet Reflectivity an Impending Catastrophe
September 19, 2016
by Robert Hunziker

The planet’s air conditioning system is on the blink, working intermittently, losing its glinting, lustrous white reflectiveness, as it turns deep blue, absorbing 90% of sunlight rather than reflecting it back into outer space. The repercussions of Arctic sea ice loss are immense.

“Our planet has actually changed colour,” Peter Wadhams, A Farewell to Ice (Allen Lane an imprint of Penguin Books, 2016). Loss of Arctic sea ice has such an overriding powerful impact on the planet, it warrants this 206-page book. “It is Man’s first major achievement in reshaping the face of his planet, and it is of course an unintended achievement, with dubious and possibly catastrophic consequences to follow.” (p.3)

“There is no period in Earth history that we know about where the rate of rise of atmospheric CO2 is as great as it is today,” Professor Peter Wadhams brings fresh insight to the dynamics behind the interrelationship of Arctic sea ice and climate change/global warming. The conclusions by this preeminent ice scientist are sobering.

According to Professor Wadhams (Cambridge), who is the UK’s most experienced sea ice scientist (50 trips under or on Arctic ice): “The CO2 levels in the atmosphere are already so high that when their warming potential is realized in a few decades, the resulting temperature rise will be catastrophic,” referencing the latency effect of CO2’s maddening dance with global warming.

More:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/09/19/loss-of-planet-reflectivity-an-impending-catastrophe/

[SleeplessinSoCal]

1. Well. . . That's just great.

[vlyons]

3. Alas as a Buddhist, I may reincarnate

We Buddhists believe in the possibility of reincarnation. So unless I achieve perfect and complete enlightenment in this go-round, I'll be back on the wheel of life, old age, disease, and death yet again, and again, and again. So deal with climate change now, or deal with it later. We humans have simply got to deal with our greedy impulses and desires to have ever more and more stuff, produced with ever more and more carbon energy. We have to stop having so many children, because we simply cannot sustain large families. We need to practice discipline in controlling our desires to accumulate wealth at any cost. And we must realize that stuff is impermanent and can never ever completely give us contentment and happiness.

Sometimes I just want to shake some people and say, "Wake up! Stop thinking about only yourself."

[Zoonart]

4. Heh...

Yea, I hear you. I'm a Buddhist too...Bhodisatva...not so much. Having anger issues. I wonder why.
Namaste

[vlyons]

9. time for some lojong

I've been angry most of my life, but not so much these days. Don't know what tradition you follow, but in Tibetan Buddhism, I've found that meditation on Akshobhya to be quite helpful. Buddha of mirror-like wisdom and calm abiding. Anger is just another impermanent energy that arises and goes away. An energy that can be channeled into enlightened Buddha activity. We live in degenerate times, a target rich field to practice compassion. A lot of hurting buckaroos out there.

May all sentient beings be free of suffering, and the causes and conditions of suffering.
May all sentient beings have happiness and the causes and conditions of happiness.
May all sentient beings never be separated from the profound bliss.
May all sentient beings be liberated from ignorance, greed, and hatred.

[Ligyron]

2. I'm glad that I am of the age I am now.

Plus, the sixties were a great time to come of age.

I won't be around to experience this disaster but I sure feel sorry for my kids, my grand kids and their children.

[Botany]

5. New York City is going to be underwater

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/09/new-york-future-flooding-climate-change.html

Even locals who believe climate change is real have a hard time grasping that their city will almost
certainly be flooded beyond recognition.

[longship]

6. Lowering albedo is a positive feedback mechanism.

The lower it gets, the lower it will get.

It's a really bad idea to mess with planet reflectivity.

[Cary]

7. Our intelligence is just another evolutionary adaptation

It is an adaptation that is rendering us extinct. So it goes.

[maxrandb]

8. Won't all the Trump supporters

Mitigate this problem with their white sheets?

[SleeplessinSoCal]

10. Remember "Planet Green"?

I around 2004 it was a cable channel dedicated to the environment. Various programs discussed ways of changing our habits.

I recall on one program Christie Brinkley responded to the news of the loss of the polar ice caps, along with their reflective power, suggesting we start painting roof tops white to make up the difference.

I keep that idea in the back of my mind because it would work if the entire planet did that or something similar. If the entire planet can get cell phones, can't we fix this?