Climate Letter #1235

Important new information about the way large amounts of CO2 were vented from the Southern Ocean during past periods of deglaciation.  What has long been suspected has now been confirmed, showing the true source of rapid CO2 increases that can be seen on historical charts derived from ice cores covering the last 800,000 years of ice age glacial cycles. (I once thought it mostly came by way of the carbon stored in melting permafrost as ice sheets retreated, but this is a much better explanation.)  There is more to the story:  “What concerns the researchers is that it could happen again as the climate continues to warm”……”Ocean release would subtract from our remaining emissions budget and that means we’re going to have to get our emissions down a heck of a lot faster. We need to figure out how much.”
https://phys.org/news/2018-08-scientists-atmospheric-co2-deglaciation-deep.html

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A review of two recent studies about the effect of higher temperatures on soil biology and weakening of soil carbon retention.  The information is not brand new, but for those who are not already familiar this is a good summary of some important findings related to one of the less visible impacts of climate change.

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New information about the mechanisms responsible for the melting of West Antarctic glaciers from below by pulses of warm ocean currents.  Data collected over a period of decades suggest the recent development of a strong fundamental acceleration rather than a slow and steady linear trend.

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What happens when cities experience temperatures of 50C (122F)?  It has already been exceeded in a few places where most people knew how to adjust.  The Guardian tells what it’s like and then goes on to report some forecasts as the curve keeps bending upward.  For example, “New studies suggest France “could easily exceed” 50C by the end of the century while Australian cities are forecast to reach this point even earlier. Kuwait, meanwhile, could sizzle towards an uninhabitable 60C.”

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Tax havens are largely responsible for the funding of illegal deforestation and fishing operations.  A Swedish group used a systematic approach to track and measure the massive amount of money involved.  “This lack of transparency hides how tax havens are linked to degradation of environmental commons that are crucial for both people and planet at global scales.”  There is no central power of enforcement over the many small countries that have cooperative politicians.
https://phys.org/news/2018-08-links-tax-havens-deforestation-illegal.html

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The problems caused by plastics and plastic waste, just as massive as the problems of climate change, and based on exactly the same raw materials, are still looking for solutions.

Carl