Pardon My French
Too often, interests have neutered the term tipping point by connecting it to irrelevant events, as if it were a game changing play in a football game. Less often, the tipping point is used in a more rational format, coupling the evidence of its onset–before the climate goes catawampus. After all, once the tipping point fully engages, clarity is pointless.
Evidence of the forthcoming chaos fostered by human endeavors includes changes in the atmospheric moisture circulation in South America and post-glacial rebound. Other installments are also underway.
For those of you unfamiliar with term post-glacial rebound, it considers the deformation of the earth’s crust by a few billion tons of ice on a particular location, like Iceland, Greenland, or the Antarctic–and the subsequent rebounding of the crust after some huge portion of that ice melts, or large portions of the ice skate off into the oceans.
Consider ice sliding off a convex shape that had once been concave: voila, post-glacial rebound.
The (sudden) rebound of the crust beneath the Antarctic and the subsequent dumping of enormous amounts of glacial ice off the Antarctic shelves into the ocean–raising sea level dramatically in under a decade–perhaps under a year, or less, is another episode of the early onset of the tipping point. Post-glacial rebound, sans ice-plop, from decreased ice mass has already been measured in places like Iceland.
Secondary events associated with post-glacial rebound include huge-damn-waves, flooding, and virtually instantaneous sea level rise–geologically speaking–as well as a tip towards an increased frequency of volcanic and seismic commotion. Ice sheets the size of Connecticut, or so, plopping off the continent of Antarctica and floating off to melt in some distant ocean will alter the distribution of mass on the crust of our planet. The tectonic plates will adjust to the alteration. Hydrothermal vents are suppressed, while volcanoes on land become more vigorous.
Do you know how the atmospheric moisture patterns will change as a result of post-glacial rebound? Do you know how post-glacial rebound will impact the atmospheric moisture patterns? Do you feel lucky?
If we continue accelerating the process of energizing the climate in an economic tantrum, even the most obtuse of us will recognize the GDP, the prime rate, the discount rate, the Dow Jones average, and the money supply mean little to le vestige. The economic outbursts of petulant lobbyists and a technocratic nouveau riche whipped forward as mules by a 19th century energy cartel will cease as commerce drowns in a sea of misfortune. The economic systems that underlie business are dependent on a quiet planet, a calm sea, predictable weather patterns, and a docile population. All of these foundations will be under attack by bifurcated (tipped) climate.
Because we didn’t address GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions with a meaningful line of attack twenty years ago–when we had time to implement a rational transition to the new climate regime–our options are unpleasant. Technology is part of the answer, but so far, we’ve put our hope in a technological-Maginot-Line, and willful ignorance. Leadership decided to believe we had until the end of the 21st century to address anthropogenic forcing of the radiative balance despite risk assessment. Anthropogenic forcing of the radiative balance is also an event of species maturity.
The strides we have taken in renewables and sustainability are cultivated by research, but they are only part of the resolution. Technology might even address the core issue of large-scale decarbonization of the economy–if it has enough time. Problem is the maintenance requirements of technology lead to failure with our current GHG trajectory. Ever try to repair a computer, or an economic model, while treading water or hiding in a storm cellar? Worse, even with a mature technological strategy of sustainability and resilience backed up by an appropriate implementation plan, it will fall short if political will is undermined by regressive industries–which is what has happened so far. That’s also willful ignorance. That’s ego.
The tipping point is an effluent of oil. It will obliterate life–as we know it–unless we face the truth: Our civilization requires major cuts in GHGs right now–not later. Cuts that will wreck certain parts of the global economy, but since climate change is threat multiplier–put in place by 19th century economics and coddled by 21st century corruption–take the hit. Our nations are strong, not as strong as we were in the 1990’s. We must face the fact that willful ignorance and corruption have had their way with us. Regardless, if we wait too much longer to respond to the climate crisis, events will settle the issue for us–without our consent, without our control, without our interests.
We should already be on a war-footing. Securing food, water, and shelter for the population as a top priority–not economic hoarding–because population is the one resource we may still direct. Of course, with a policy of economic hoarding, we will lose the population resource: Islands of economic prosperity in a sea of horror are not safety zones. They’re targets.
All this verbiage to declare the tipping point is not a single event, a point in time, or a down in a football game. Rather the tipping point is a group of linked events that will cascade upon each other, interacting with each other, making mother Earth a hostile venue for humans. Let me assuage your fears: The planet will be fine, even with post-glacial rebound. The redirection of global moisture and a bevy of other happenings as well–but we humans are fucked if we continue to sit on our assets.
Comprende?
Depressing, perhaps you like cloud formations?
http://www.cubebreaker.com/clouds-roll-like-waves/
http://www.boredpanda.com/strange-clouds/
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