a thousand years of solitude

 

Research out of Boulder, CO is indicating that climate change due to increases in carbon dioxide is irreversible and will last 1000 years, according to the Environmental News Service.

The study was done by scientists with the NOAA, led by Dr. Susan Solomon.  The group studied models of allowing the carbon dioxide to reach peak concentrations and then completely halted the emissions after the peak. They found that the scientific evidence is strong enough to quantify some irreversible climate impacts, including rainfall changes in certain key regions, and global sea level rise.

If carbon dioxide is allowed to rise to 450-600 parts per million from its current value of 385 parts per million, and then CO2 emissions completely cease, the results would include persistent decreases in dry-season rainfall that are comparable to the 1930s North American Dust Bowl in zones including southern Europe, northern Africa, southwestern North America, southern Africa, and western Australia.

The data emphasizes that any carbon emissions in this century, essentially ‘lock-in” a sea level rise that will stay for the next 1000 years.  This research shows that carbon dioxide levels and the ocean work hand in hand to impact when happens on the planet.  Heating of the planet due to increase in carbon dioxide, creates an environment for sea level rising, which then makes it difficult for the carbon dioxide to escape the atmosphere.