Livermore National Laboratory scientists warn if fossil fuel use is not significantly reduced in the next few centuries, the polar ice caps will melt.
The scientists used a climate-carbon cycle model to look at global climate and carbon cycle changes. They determined the Earth's sea levels will rise by 23 feet and temperatures will soar by 14.5 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2300 if we continue to use the planet's available fossil fuels.
The jump in temperature would have alarming consequences, said lead author Govindasamy Bala of the laboratory's Energy and Environment Directorate.
In the polar regions alone, the temperature would spike at nearly 70F, forcing the land in the region to change from ice and tundra to boreal forests.
As for global warming skeptics, Bala said the proof is already evident. He pointed to the 2003 European heat wave, and the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season as examples of extreme climate change.
"We definitely know we are going to warm over the next 300 years," he said. "In reality, (it) may be worse off than we predict."
Copyright 2005 by United Press International
Related stories:
Geoengineering could slow down the global water cycle
As fossil fuel emissions continue to climb, reducing the amount of sunlight hitting the Earth would definitely have a cooling effect on surface temperatures.
NASA study finds rising Arctic storm activity sways sea ice, climate
A new NASA study shows that the rising frequency and intensity of arctic storms over the last half century, attributed to progressively warmer waters, directly provoked acceleration of the rate of arctic sea ice drift, long considered by scientists as a bellwether of climate change.
Global warming's ecosystem double whammy
Plants and soils act like sponges for atmospheric carbon dioxide, but new research finds that one abnormally warm year can suppress the amount of carbon dioxide taken up by some grassland ecosystems for up to two years. The findings, which followed an unprecedented four-year study of sealed, 12-ton containerized grassland plots at DRI is the cover story in this week's issue (September 18) of the journal
Nature.
Warming world in range of dangerous consequences
The earth will warm about 2.4° C (4.3° F) above pre-industrial levels even under extremely conservative greenhouse-gas emission scenarios and under the assumption that efforts to clean up particulate pollution continue to be successful, according to a new analysis by a pair of researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.
Curbing coal emissions alone might avert climate danger, say researchers
An ongoing rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide from burning of fossil fuels might be kept below harmful levels if emissions from coal are phased out within the next few decades, say researchers. They say that less plentiful oil and gas should be used sparingly as well, but that far greater supplies of coal mean that it must be the main target of reductions. Their study appears in the journal
Global Biogeochemical Cycles.
Ice core studies confirm accuracy of climate models
An analysis has been completed of the global carbon cycle and climate for a 70,000 year period in the most recent Ice Age, showing a remarkable correlation between carbon dioxide levels and surprisingly abrupt changes in climate.
NASA study illustrates how global peak oil could impact climate
(PhysOrg.com) -- The burning of fossil fuels -- notably coal, oil and gas -- has accounted for about 80 percent of the rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide since the pre-industrial era. Now, NASA researchers have identified feasible emission scenarios that could keep carbon dioxide below levels that some scientists have called dangerous for climate.
'Emissions-free' coal plant pilot fires up in Germany
One of Europe's biggest power companies inaugurates on Tuesday a pilot project using a technology that it is presenting as a huge potential breakthrough in the fight against climate change.