Around 250 years ago, the Permian Era was coming to a close. Guess what? The temperature was around 60% hotter then it was today. And life survived. So did the Earth. Imagine that.
Yet, like the huge meteor striking the Gulf of Mexico that many scientists believe wiped out the dinosaurs, the global warming at the end of the Permian period resulted in deadly amounts of carbon dioxide that killed most land animals, he said.
Scientists aren't certain what caused the episode some 247 million years ago. They estimate that temperatures ranged in the low 100s year-round for thousands of years, he said.
"Its kind of scary that we don't know for sure what caused the worst catastrophe of life on this planet," he said.
Well, it sure wasn't cars. Perhaps not the best illustration of runaway global warming, however, there has be no proof that the higher temperatures led to the mass extinction, despite claims that the higher CO2 content did. The Permian started with the Earth in the grips of an ice age. It ended with the Earth in the grips of a much hotter period. And, the temps went down, they went up, they went down. And all without Mankind causing it. Amazing!
And, when it comes to reducing CO2, what state does that leave the atmosphere in? With more oxygen? Everyone knows that oxygen is, yup, a poison gas. Of course, if people want insects to grow huge again, like they did during the Carboniferous period, when the oxygen content was 36% higher, well, to each his own.
Did you know that coal is natural, and mostly came from the Carboniferous period? Plants. Amazing!
Meanwhile, via Martin at MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, comes an article from Der Spiegel
According to information obtained by SPIEGEL ONLINE, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is convinced global warming is already making the world sweat. At least that's the gist of the "Summary for Policymakers" from the group made up of hundreds of scientists.
Yeah, apparently the do not think anyone else has the capability to read the report. Snicker.
- Some 20 to 30 percent of all species face a "high risk of extinction" should average global temperatures rise another 1.5 to 2.5 degrees Celsius from their 1990 levels. That could happen by 2050, the report warns. (using my kindergarden math, the report states that there will be a .2C rise over the next two decades, and .1C thereafter, meaning a .7C rise by 2050)
- Coral reefs are "likely to undergo strong declines." (despite lasting millions of years, through ice ages, hot spells, highly oxygenated, and highly CO2'd eras, now they are going to disappear? Please.)
- Salt marshes and mangrove forests could disappear as sea levels rise. (see previous comment)
- Tropical rainforests will be replaced by savanna in those regions where groundwater decreases. (welcome to natural Earth forces. Heck, all the continents were combined into one in the past, creating the worlds largest desert ever. And the Sahara is shrinking, too)
- Migratory birds and mammals will suffer as vegetation zones in the Artic shift (isn't the Arctic mostly, you know, ice?)
Silly stuff, based on fake science. All that is missing is to blame it all on George Bush and the USA. Martin has another great post on global warming today, too.
