Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Climate records tumble, leaving Earth in uncharted territory - scientists (Original Post) Uncle Joe Jul 2023 OP
Yet we tap dance to our demise. Autumn Jul 2023 #1
Nature has already dealt with five mass extinctions. anciano Jul 2023 #2
unless what we are doing turns out to be irreversible Blues Heron Jul 2023 #9
The best analogy we have is the Permian mass extinction NickB79 Jul 2023 #10
we are doing it way faster- if methane feedbacks kick in, we could be there in 200 years Blues Heron Jul 2023 #11
Earth will likely have biological activity until the Sun consumes it NickB79 Jul 2023 #12
How do we.... Think. Again. Jul 2023 #3
Tell the Uncle Joe Jul 2023 #4
The warnings have been knocking at the front door for decades. yonder Jul 2023 #5
That's a really good set of graphs orthoclad Jul 2023 #6
Really looks like a significant major change is happening. honest.abe Jul 2023 #7
We may have passed several climate tipping points NickB79 Jul 2023 #8

anciano

(998 posts)
2. Nature has already dealt with five mass extinctions.
Sat Jul 22, 2023, 01:40 PM
Jul 2023

The earth will continue to exist .... with or without us.

Blues Heron

(5,939 posts)
9. unless what we are doing turns out to be irreversible
Sun Jul 23, 2023, 10:12 AM
Jul 2023

All bets are off. We have no idea what this much CO2, this fast, will do.

NickB79

(19,257 posts)
10. The best analogy we have is the Permian mass extinction
Sun Jul 23, 2023, 10:31 AM
Jul 2023

Also caused by massive carbon outgassing. In 75,000 yr, CO2 levels rose from 400ppm to 3000ppm, we now believe.

The world didn't end. BUT.....90% of all life went extinct. I doubt we could ever reach 3000ppm CO2 now, with so much carbon locked away in geological formations, but 1000ppm by 2150 isn't out of the question, especially if the permafrost and subsea/sub-tundra methane deposits there thaw. And we're releasing it in under 500 yr, not tens of thousands of years.

Interesting times are ahead of us, I fear.

Blues Heron

(5,939 posts)
11. we are doing it way faster- if methane feedbacks kick in, we could be there in 200 years
Sun Jul 23, 2023, 10:35 AM
Jul 2023

we could do in 200 years what took 75,000 years. That has not happened ever on this planet.

People tell themselves that life will go on on planet earth without us to give themselves an out mentally. We should be acting as if the very existence of all life on this planet is at risk.

NickB79

(19,257 posts)
12. Earth will likely have biological activity until the Sun consumes it
Sun Jul 23, 2023, 11:29 AM
Jul 2023

The deep biosphere stretching a mile underground likely has more biomass than all the life here on the surface, and it is totally independent of surface conditions. The oceans could boil off and it would still be active.

It's just that it's primarily bacterial life, with the occasional nematode thrown in. Not very comforting, I know.

Uncle Joe

(58,389 posts)
4. Tell the
Sat Jul 22, 2023, 02:01 PM
Jul 2023

corporate media, temperature graphs are inflation and the diminishing Antarctic sea ice are stock prices, they will be on it 24/7.

They might even put it on milk cartons, "where's the sea ice?"

yonder

(9,669 posts)
5. The warnings have been knocking at the front door for decades.
Sat Jul 22, 2023, 02:08 PM
Jul 2023

Homo Oblivious, Homo Profitmalis, Homo Ignoramus, whomever we are, have opened that door and invited those portents inside.

honest.abe

(8,680 posts)
7. Really looks like a significant major change is happening.
Sat Jul 22, 2023, 05:00 PM
Jul 2023

Scary. The catastrophes may be closer than predicted.

NickB79

(19,257 posts)
8. We may have passed several climate tipping points
Sun Jul 23, 2023, 09:51 AM
Jul 2023

And when they're passed, change is fast and irreversible.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»Climate records tumble, l...