Comments on: Kerry Cook says Africa vulnerable to abrupt climate change http://earthsky.org/earth/kerry-cook-says-africa-vulnerable-to-abrupt-climate-change A Clear Voice for Science Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:20:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paula http://earthsky.org/earth/kerry-cook-says-africa-vulnerable-to-abrupt-climate-change/comment-page-1#comment-178218 Paula Mon, 25 Oct 2010 01:46:49 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/eng/?p=17748#comment-178218 Climate change prediction is quite a hard thing to do. The longer number of years with the appropriate climactic description on each year is very important. With the records which shows only 30 years, we say that it is just so short to be used for trending the possibilities. However there is a system that may help out. We can use data from areas or continents with the same characteristics and same geographical distances from the equator as a parallel data which might give us a hint on what could possibly happen. However finding such areas would also seem a problem in itself. Climate change prediction is quite a hard thing to do. The longer number of years with the appropriate climactic description on each year is very important. With the records which shows only 30 years, we say that it is just so short to be used for trending the possibilities. However there is a system that may help out. We can use data from areas or continents with the same characteristics and same geographical distances from the equator as a parallel data which might give us a hint on what could possibly happen. However finding such areas would also seem a problem in itself.

]]> By: Hank http://earthsky.org/earth/kerry-cook-says-africa-vulnerable-to-abrupt-climate-change/comment-page-1#comment-15212 Hank Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:18:12 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/eng/?p=17748#comment-15212 There is no mechanism in the climate system for "abrupt" changes, at least at the human scale. Climate (the long term smoothing of weather averages) changes very slowly and on multi-decadal upward and downward step trends. Hypothetically speaking, if climate could change abruptly, Africa, along with all other continents would be vulnerable. But any changes that may occur will be gradual and will provide ample opportunity for humanity to identify and implement adaptation solutions. Of course, the poorer nations will be hardest impacted should adaptation be required. There is no mechanism in the climate system for “abrupt” changes, at least at the human scale. Climate (the long term smoothing of weather averages) changes very slowly and on multi-decadal upward and downward step trends. Hypothetically speaking, if climate could change abruptly, Africa, along with all other continents would be vulnerable. But any changes that may occur will be gradual and will provide ample opportunity for humanity to identify and implement adaptation solutions. Of course, the poorer nations will be hardest impacted should adaptation be required.

]]> By: Benjamin Napier http://earthsky.org/earth/kerry-cook-says-africa-vulnerable-to-abrupt-climate-change/comment-page-1#comment-12559 Benjamin Napier Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:08:04 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/eng/?p=17748#comment-12559 Africa is not unique in its vulnerability to climare change. The entire earth is equally so. Our geologic history shows many abrupt climate changes. These might be due t ovvolcanic activity, meteor or comet strikes, variability in the output of the sun and variability of the earth's orbit about the sun. Just a small drop or rise in the solar energy striking the earth will and has had enormous impact on our climate. A bit of warming could be very beneficial to humans on the planet in that it would allow agriculture to be conducted at higher latitudes. A small drop in temperature could cripple agriculture in the higher lattitudes. Humans and animals are adaptable creatures. Short of a drastic and quick change in climate, life will go on. There have always been changes and change will be with us for the life of the planet.5t121 Africa is not unique in its vulnerability to climare change. The entire earth is equally so. Our geologic history shows many abrupt climate changes. These might be due t ovvolcanic activity, meteor or comet strikes, variability in the output of the sun and variability of the earth’s orbit about the sun. Just a small drop or rise in the solar energy striking the earth will and has had enormous impact on our climate.

A bit of warming could be very beneficial to humans on the planet in that it would allow agriculture to be conducted at higher latitudes. A small drop in temperature could cripple agriculture in the higher lattitudes. Humans and animals are adaptable creatures. Short of a drastic and quick change in climate, life will go on. There have always been changes and change will be with us for the life of the planet.5t121

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