As far as vicious circles go, i reckon this is about as bad as it gets. Climate change is weakening the so called ‘Southern Ocean carbon sink’. The Southern Ocean carbon sink plays a big part in regulating the earth’s climate and mitigating the effects of our emissions. That’s a spiral to nowhere in my book.
The first evidence that recent climate change has weakened one the Earth’s natural carbon ‘sinks’ is published this week in the journal Science.
An increase in winds over the Southern Ocean, caused by greenhouse gases and ozone depletion, has led to a release of stored carbon dioxide CO2 into the atmosphere and is preventing further absorption of the greenhouse gas by the Southern Ocean.
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I say let it all happen and we’ll deal with it then. There’s obviously no turning back, so we might as well get ready for the long haul.
Surely if there are measures to take that will lessen the impact of climate change then we should take them.
I agree - from all the variuos opinions I have heard is that while we are at the 11th hour we can still make a difference if we act now. Why wouldn’t you do what you can today? Sure you and I may not be around to see the full impact dug but that is just an asshole of an attitude I think!
The most urgent, most effective way and most of all the biologically most rewarding way is by protecting the remaining forests and coral reefs in well-protected nature reserves and national parks. This is all explained in my blog and given in more detail in http://www.adopt-a-ranger.org/carbon_offset.htm and http://www.birdlist.org/phpbb
I agree with the comment that we are going to have to deal with it, but the first thing of dealing with it should be by stopping the process.