By Keith Antonysen
Yesterday, I made a statement that in my opinion tourism is on the way out and was asked why. My response with additions:
Professor James Anderson, the scientist who warned the world about the depletion of ozone, has projected that in 2022 the Arctic Ocean will be ice-free, and we have a few years to get our act together. When taking a linear projection of how ice volume is being lost, 2022 is not a ridiculous projection. Other scientists are suggesting that 2030 +is when we can expect to see an ice-free Arctic Ocean. Sea ice reflects warmth, ocean water takes it up. Alaska has been having record high temperatures in 2019, with permafrost thawing more rapidly than expected, creating another positive feedback ( a silly term) as it sure isn’t positive.
Tundra areas in Siberia are also not in good shape; google pingo, if you wish to scare yourself. Jason Box, a glaciologist, stated we are “……” on hearing about the first pingo explosion. Lots of methane being voided into the atmosphere through pingo explosion. As indicated above 1.5C temperature rise over pre-industrial times is a trigger for permafrost to thaw rapidly. The current CO2 level of ~410 ppm occurred 3 million years ago, temperatures and sea levels were not conducive to civilisation.
The red flags are up, scientists state very clearly that an ice-free Arctic Ocean provides a feedback that we have no control over. The Arctic has a bearing on climate in the Northern Hemisphere. Antarctica also does not provide much joy. What’s that got to do with tourism? We can hope that we see a record of lower sea ice extent than seen in 2012 in September providing tons of dead canaries. It would mean that the highly polluting aviation industry would slow right down, sensible people would not travel far. And efforts are needed now never before seen apart from in a world war.
Conservative politicians such as Abbott, Andrews, Abetz, Canavan et al, do not believe in anthropogenic climate change, others such as Morrison mutter words that are suggestive of policy. While Shorten has also let us down through planning of fracking in NT. They are representative of politicians around Earth who have ignored scientists. The IPCC suggests we have 12 years to get moving hard. There are numerous references, many about insects and animals being lost eg emperor penguins, insects, and bats etc.
James Hansen the father of modern climate science just prior to the Paris Accord stated we are on the way to 2C. To display that greenhouse gases are warming Earth, data from satellites have displayed how the Troposphere is warming and the Stratosphere is cooling. In other words, greenhouse gases are stopping some warmth from escaping into space. Much warmth is being taken up by Oceans. Young people are well aware of the poor future they are being provided with.
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