Climate Change

As the emission of greenhouse gases continue to increase, climate models predict that the average temperature at the Earth's surface could increase from 3.2 to 7.2ºF (above 1990 levels by the end of this century.) Scientists are certain that human activities are changing the composition of the atmosphere.  Check out the Global Impacts link to see what these temperature changes could mean.

Antarctic glacier 'thinning fast'

BBC (August 13, 2009)

_{One of the largest glaciers in Antarctica is thinning four times faster than it was 10 years ago, according to research seen by the BBC.  A study of satellite measurements of Pine Island glacier in west Antarctica reveals the surface of the ice is now dropping at a rate of up to 16m a year. Since 1994, the glacier has lowered by as much as 90m, which has serious implications for sea-level rise.}

UN chief warns of dire future without climate deal

Reuters (August 11, 2009)

_{SEOUL, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Failure to act quickly on climate change could eventually lead to violence and mass unrest as global weather patterns drastically change, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday. "If we fail to act, climate change will intensify droughts, floods and other natural disasters," Ban said at a forum near Seoul that came weeks ahead of his own conference on climate change in September.}

Climate Change Seen as Threat to U.S. Security

New York Times (August 11, 2009)

_{WASHINGTON — The changing global climate will pose profound strategic challenges to the United States in coming decades, raising the prospect of military intervention to deal with the effects of violent storms, drought, mass migration and pandemics, military and intelligence analysts say.}

Climate, Security and Politics

New York Times (August 9, 2009)

_{John Broder has  a story above the fold in Sunday’s Times describing growing concerns of Defense Department planners over the potential destabilizing effect of the building global greenhouse effect.  Strategists and planners within the Pentagon have for many years been exploring the  military implications of rising temperatures and seas and  retreating Arctic sea ice. But such studies had,  until recently, been a relatively low priority.}

Pine Beetle Battle Turns Desperate

Denver Post (2006)

_{Steamboat Springs - The healthy spruce and lodgepole pine trees atop the Steamboat ski area represent the last stand for Andy Cadenhead.  As the forests turn reddish-brown all around him - the result of an unprecedented outbreak of bark-burrowing beetles - the "high-value" land at the ski area remains green because of the extraordinary efforts by U.S. Forest Service agents like Cadenhead and ski-resort crews.}