The Timeline For 21st Century “Climate Change Events”

Earlier this year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), reported that there is a 90 percent likelihood that humans are significantly contributing to the change.

Scientist Stephen Hawking described climate as a greater threat to the planet than . Hawking made the remarks earlier this spring as other prominent scientists turned the giant hand of the Doomsday Clock — a symbol of the risk of atomic cataclysm — closer to midnight. The move marked the fourth time since the end of the Cold War that the clock has ticked forward and Hawking warned that "as citizens of the world, we have a duty to alert the public to the unnecessary risks that we live with every day."

The international panel of scientists predicts the global average temperature could anywhere from 2 to 11 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100 and that sea levels could rise by 2 feet.

A slight increase in Earth's rotation rate could result. Glaciers would disappear completely. Some areas would face intense flooding, while others would experience severe drought, along with many other global shifts.

The following is a predicted timeline for events that will likely occur this century:

2007—More of the world's population now lives in cities than in rural areas, which is changing patterns of land use and rainfall patterns. The world population will surpass 6.6 billion.

2008—Global oil production will peak between 2008 and 2018. Once “Hubbert's” Peak is reached, global oil production will begin an irreversible decline, possibly triggering a global recession, food shortages and conflict between nations over dwindling oil supplies.

2020—Flash floods will very likely increase across all parts of Europe.

Less rainfall could reduce agriculture yields by up to 50 percent in some parts of the world.

World population will reach 7.6 billion people.

2030—Up to 18 percent of the world's coral reefs will likely be lost as a result of climate change and other environmental stresses. In Asian coastal waters, the coral loss could reach 30 percent.

World population will reach 8.3 billion people.

Warming temperatures will cause temperate glaciers on equatorial mountains in Africa to disappear.

In developing countries, the urban population will more than double.

2040—The Arctic Sea could be ice-free in the summer, and winter ice depth may shrink drastically. However, some researchers argue that the region could still have summer ice up until between 2060 and 2105.

2050—Small alpine glaciers will very likely disappear completely, and large glaciers will shrink by 30 to 70 percent. Austrian scientist Roland Psenner of the University of Innsbruck says this is a conservative estimate, and the small alpine glaciers could be gone as soon as 2037.

In Australia, there will likely be an additional 3,200 to 5,200 heat-related deaths per year. The hardest hit will be people over the age of 65. An extra 500 to 1,000 people will die of heat-related deaths in New York City per year. In the United Kingdom, the opposite will occur, and cold-related deaths will outpace heat-related ones.

World population reaches 9.4 billion people.

Crop yields could increase by up to 20 percent in East and Southeast Asia, while decreasing by up to 30 percent in Central and South Asia. Similar shifts in crop yields may occur on other continents.

As biodiversity hotspots are more threatened, a quarter of the world's plant and vertebrate animal species could face extinction.

2070—As glaciers disappear and areas affected by drought increase, electricity production for the world's existing hydropower stations will decrease. Hardest hit will be Europe, where hydropower potential is expected to decline on average by 6 percent; around the Mediterranean, the decrease could be up to 50 percent.

2080—While some parts of the world dry out, others will be inundated. Up to 100 million people could experience coastal flooding each year. Most at risk are densely populated and low-lying areas that are less able to adapt to rising sea levels and areas which already face other challenges such as tropical storms.

Between 1.1 and 3.2 billion people will experience water shortages and up to 600 million will go hungry.

Sea levels could rise around New York City by more than three feet, potentially causing extensive flooding around the city.

2085—The risk of dengue fever from climate change is estimated to increase to 3.5 billion people.

2100—A combination of global warming and other factors will push many ecosystems to the limit, forcing them to exceed their natural ability to adapt to climate change.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels will be much higher than anytime during the past 650,000 years.

Ocean pH levels will very likely decrease by as much as 0.5 pH units, the lowest it's been in the last 20 million years. The ability of marine organisms such as corals, crabs and oysters to form shells or exoskeletons could be impaired.

Thawing permafrost and other factors will make Earth's land a net source of carbon emissions, meaning it will emit more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than it absorbs.

New climate zones appear on up to 39 percent of the world's land surface, radically transforming the planet.

Nearly up to one third of all species of plants and land animals-more than a million total-could be driven to extinction.

The IPCC reports warn that current "conservation practices are generally ill-prepared for climate change and effective adaptation responses are likely to be costly to implement."

Posted by Rebecca Sato

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Monitoring Climate Change -Experts Say We Need Lunar Observatories

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Comments

[Everydayman]

It was nice to see that the scientists have mapped out the weather for the next 100 years.
Tell me now exactly why you can't predict the weather for next week?
Wickedly arrogant i'd say.
Scientist say it a 90% chance humans cause global warming..
I say there is a 90% chance that the earths temp will change a few degrees up or down over a period of time..you have thought of that haven't you? You see i'm still waiting for the next ice age my science teacher told me was going to happen in the 70's..
The reason most people aren't in an alarmed state is because you guys have zero credibility with the public..If your scientific solution is to get rid of all cars, planes, ships, powerplants, farming equipment or anything else that burns gas..good luck with that solution..Nice technology..
Sorry about the tone..You deserved it..
Now back to Galaxy, ms. weatherman

Hey Everydayman, Like they say at the Bush/Fox network: "We report, You decide!" Rebecca isn't a meterologist; she's a journalist. Agree that a five-minute study of our planets cycles will show.....surprise, cycles! Ices Ages, Interglacials, so forth, in geological time, not SuperBowl time. What is safe to predict is change. But keep in mind that this is the first time in human history that "technology" has become a metric and a possible or probable catalyst to that change. My best, Casey.

[everydayman]

Gosh Casey...ssshhh!!
I was trying to draw the 2 sides into a knock down, drag out fight over global warming..
You know the Cheryl Crow types in thier private jets telling the ford driving crowd that they must do 'something' to 'fight' global warming..And the already 'made up my mind' scientists that is prodicting gloom and doom for the planet against the skeptical scientists over at the other 10%...
Guess it didn't work..
my bad..

Gotchya! Reload & Fire... : )) My best, Casey
At least we know that NYC will be flooded by 2080AD..

[everydayman]

'At least we know that NYC will be flooded by 2080AD..'

Which is good news for our Dutch friends..all that Dike technology they'll be exporting en mass and at a high profit margin..

[Ram kumar.r]

You guys are dumping your
waste in Third world countries and are taking lightly the effects of global warming.
look at the response of a reader ( You see i'm still waiting for the next ice age my science teacher told me was going to happen in the 70's..) .Lack of capability to think beyond the range of 20 or 30 years and selfishness ,, that seems to be trade mark of our market oriented self distructive culture . At least we have to be concious about the living conditions our grandchildren .
All from so called Developed countries must have in their educational cariculam ' Who will speak for Earth ' A carl sagan topic from Cosmos.

See the way of a response

[arthmt]

As for your comment with regards to "the next ice age", if you think about it, this is a viable possibility. If the worlds sea levels rise up as predicted, and ice caps on mountains as well as glaciers in oceans, melt, then that would result in more water in liquid form. This precipitates and becomes vapor...vapor becomes rain. The more water there is to precipitate, the more clouds. The more clouds, the less sunlight. Less sunlight, lower temperatures. See?
I'm not saying that I disagree with the points you're making, I'm just saying that there are two sides to everything.

As well, I agree with the comment on technology. If scientists are creating these predictions, then why isn't the technology to accommodate these changes becoming more readily available? Where is the government aiding in making environmental conscious products more accessible for the everyday man?

As well, I agree with the predictions on the increasing population. It's been studied that when times are hard, it's a natural reaction of animals to reproduce more, resulting in a larger population. The babyboom- that occurred after the war, as well, as after the great depression.

[HoosierHoops]

You guys are dumping your
waste in Third world countries
-ram
Nah..I'm pretty sure our waste is dumped in the county landfill..
Too expensive to ship dirty diapers and empty beer cans overseas.

Lack of capability to think beyond the range of 20 or 30 years and selfishness... -Ram

So you are saying that American lacks vision and foresight?
And we are selfish? That's a new one on me..I've always considered america a front leader in vision for the future..( Well let's not count the Bush thing )
And america is the most generious country on Earth in terms of giving..
my new not-for-profit charity is www.food4humanity.org
I plan on feeding millions of children here and in Africa.
Careful with the whole america is selfish crap. stick with facts..
And finally...
At least we have to be concious about the living conditions our grandchildren .-ram
you are so right about that..Our grandchildren need to be able to breathe fresh air and drink fresh water..but not only that..Technology is what's going to help third world countries achieve those very goals..
You know those damn selfish Americans and Europeans are at it again..
good day sir/miss

[ramkumar]

Hossier /www.food4humanity.org /

Thanks for the response

Let me note clearily that what i had mentioned in my post is just a emotional reponse to the atitude of the person who had posted ( 70's ice age ) and is not with any racial or continental prejudices.

With my limited understanding i completely agree with you on the technological advances of the west compared to Asian societies .The contribution Of NASA,Chandra space centre & Italian space agency in the feld of astronomy is infact benefitiing the whole of mankind in understanding the universe than being sectarian or nationalist in its results . If fact we are only still imagining about our journey to moon ( the president who formulated this idea will be moving out of office with in a short time --- soar grapes !!)while cassini visited titan and pioneer -11 is far moving out side the boudaries of solar system .

Yet such a technologically advanced society of yours need to concentrate more on enviromnental science than any under developed nations insted of ICBM'S and star war program.( Recent senate budget reduction on study on Green house effects and SETI Programs)

Heartfull Best wishes for u in your association with a non -profit charity organization .

Good day

[jackson settipane]

you guys all have no idea what you are talking about. Average temperatures have climbed around 1.4 degrees farenheit. Now you can't tell me that this can just be omitted from our simpleminded americans and everyday people. Even the lamest of hacks and simpletons realize the tragedy that will soon unfold among us. The last two decades were the hottest in 400 years! Some would argue that global warming is a natural occurence however I realize as opposed to the feelings of the vain and in denial peoples that global warming is not a natural cycle of the earth and the fossil fuels are the causes. Everyone on this page other than Ram are selfish and need to start looking ahead to protect our future for our children and our children's children!!!!!!!!!!!!

[realist]

you guys are all retards

[Clara]

Unstoppable Global Warming: Every 1,500 Years

[Clara]

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