Climate Letter #692

A personal message from an experienced climate reporter.  He is moving to a new job, documenting the effects of climate change on food security in drought-stricken parts of Africa.  Here is his introduction to the scope of that task, along with some broader reflections arising from his choice of career.

The best price on cialis is a pill for the erectile dysfunction problem. I want to be sure that I am providing the most amazing medical tourism facilities in India. buy viagra italy Women are affronted by things abounding added buy cialis online – the by relationships that blot applause and love. Other causes of impotency include substance abuse such as over consumption of sildenafil online uk alcohol which suppresses the production of the male hormone testosterone known.

—-
Ocean acidification is not just about loss of ability to make shells.  It also interferes with chemical signalling, which many species depend on in pursuit of their basic survival habits.  The rapidity of the current rate of change makes it difficult for creatures to adapt.
—–
A new study reveals a history of rapid changes in the movement of the gulf stream (or AMOC).  These mainly occurred during the course of the last ice age, and were clearly associated with abrupt and extreme temperature changes in the Northern Hemisphere.  The leading prospect for what caused major slowdowns to occur likely has to do with injections of fresh meltwater into the North Atlantic during episodes of temporary ice sheet retreat and gigantic iceberg formation.  This makes you wonder about whether a possible rapid breakdown of the Greenland ice sheet in coming decades could be strong enough to induce similar consequences.
—–
A new study improves the outlook for an important carbon sink.  About 30% of the excess CO2 emitted by human activities is currently absorbed by the “greening up” of terrestrial plant life, thereby extending the timeline for our chosen carbon budget.  That absorption also depends on the presence of nitrogen that has been fixed, which can fall short of the needed amount.  A natural process has now been discovered that commonly solves the problem in an unexpected way, which should help to keep this particular sink intact.

A separate study has found actual proof that enhanced growth of vegetation is caused by the way humans have been adding to natural emissions of CO2:

—–
In opposition to the trend of increased greening there is forest mortality.  This is a story about how it has been increasing all over the world, and why it is happening, with expectations of still more to come.  At what point should a development like this be classified as a catastrophe?
—–
The world’s first amphibious centipede has been discovered, quite venomous at that.  This is what the new breed of life will be like, following the sixth extinction.
Carl

This entry was posted in Daily Climate Letters. Bookmark the permalink.