"The climate system is an angry beast and we are poking it with sticks."Dr. Wallace Broeker, geochemist, Columbia University
As our industrialized societies begin changing Earth's climate system, it is worthwhile taking a look back to see what kind of climate we're leaving behind.
We've Had It Good
When the last ice age ended and the vast glaciers receded, about 10,000 BC, humans were presented with a veritable Eden of regular seasons, moderate temperatures, and reliable weather patterns. Thanks to this fertile climate the idea of agriculture became viable, and the seed of civilization was planted.
As civilization developed, it adapted to these relatively stable climatic patterns. In the world we have always known, extreme weather events were rare, and we have engineered our dams, levees, ports and roads to rely on the historical stability of climate.
Rocking the Boat
Over the past two centuries humanity has pumped billions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, primarily by burning fossil fuels. The concentration of carbon dioxide, for example, has skyrocketed from its pre-industrial level of 280 parts per million to 368, an increase of 30%, and it's climbing fast.
We're pushing the climate onto an uncharted course.
Now, as the climate swings away from historic stability, we are seeing an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events. According to climate models, the weather patterns upon which human societies have always relied may suddenly change, threatening our infrastructures, agriculture, resource-based industries and even our safety.
Mitigating the future disasters threatened by climate change requires solutions today.
Links
Extreme Weather
Weather Machine
