Climate Letter #1378

An explanation has been found for why ice ages became longer and more intense starting less than one million years ago.  This is a matter of great interest because there are potential implications for climate change in the near future, although no conclusions to that effect have been drawn.  The main finding is that the transition to deeper ice age cycles involved a reduction in the release of CO2 from deep waters in the Southern Ocean due to a diminution of mixing between deep and surface layers.  Less CO2 in the air held back the warming that would naturally occur based on regular effects of changes in the solar orbital cycles.

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“The findings show that mixing was significantly reduced at the end of the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, about 600,000 years ago. Moreover, they explain how the reduced mixing diminished the amount of CO2 released by the ocean, which in turn reduced the greenhouse effect and intensified ice ages. The study thus sheds light on feedback mechanisms capable of significantly slowing or accelerating ongoing climate change.”
The process is rather complicated, but inevitably leads one to wonder whether the changes we are making can cause a reversal in the mixing pattern that would allow the renewed escape of more CO2—in quantities large enough to induce additional changes in the climate—by nature’s own hand.  This report is sure to get plenty of attention, and probably speculation, so stay tuned.
https://phys.org/news/2019-03-deep-southern-ocean-key-intense.html
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More information about the increase in rainfall on Greenland (Inside Climate News).  The news reported in yesterday’s letter has attracted considerable interest.  This post adds insights showing the importance that scientists are attaching to it and also some charts  that distinguish between summer and winter events.  “A glaciologist who studies ice sheet meltwater feedbacks, said the study reinforces some of his own ongoing research showing that both rain and melting are increasing, and that the rate of melting is increasing 10 times faster than rainfall…..”These cyclones come in bringing rain and start melt events that persist long beyond the time of initial melting.”  There is good reason for all the concern about future sea level rise.
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A new study, written in plain language  for wide audiences, summarizes the connection between changes in the Arctic environment and the substantial impacts in low and mid latitudes.  Here is the introduction:
–The full study is available with open access when you click on the “pdf” link.  This work is based on references to many other studies of original importance that are briefly described in the text and listed at the end.
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An exploration of the relationship between psychology and climate change (The New Yorker).  This timely article was prompted by the apparent fact that many people are just now becoming acutely aware of the dangers of climate change, and the urgent need to taking action, for the first time, and must deal with the feelings engendered.  The author has found some sources that have helpful advice.
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Evangelical Christians in the US have begun taking a stronger interest in climate change (Deutsche Welle).  This is a group that favored Trump over Clinton by 81 to 16% and constitute more than one-quarter of the population.  Keeping those numbers intact would surely be vital to his reelection.  Some of their ministers are talking more to them about the value of environmental stewardship.  “We’re seeing a remarkable changing of the times,” Hescox told DW, adding that although many evangelicals are still dismissive of global warming, “a growing number are “getting behind climate science.”
Carl

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