Living in Bomb Time — 20
Climate Report Part Three continued:
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Heat doesn’t “just happen”
Where it’s coming from and why that matters
Take a moment to look carefully at the chart above. It’s from the last IPCC report and it’s shocking in what it tells us is happening with the world’s climate system.
Remember, the IPCC reports use numbers that are the result of compromise and negotiation. Historically, they have underestimated the speed and scope of the effects increasing levels of CO2 would have on the climate system. You should probably view these numbers as “optimistic”. Realistically the actual numbers are probably worse.
Which is why you should be scared that they are saying global warming is now between 1.5℃ and 2.0℃.
See the grey bar on the far left. The one that says, “Observed Warming”. That’s the 1.1℃ that the GISS, NOAA, and the IPCC are saying is the total amount of global warming since “the late 19th century”. When the mainstream press says there has been 1.1℃ of warming from increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. That’s the number they are using.
Now look to the right.
The first bar is “Total Human Influence”. It’s equal to the “Observed Warming” bar because they are the same thing. The only thing you can “observe” is the net result of all the human influences on the climate. Now move to the right.
“Well-mixed greenhouses gases” is the next bar. This is the sum of all the warming caused by all the types of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It’s mostly the effect of CO2 and CH4 (Methane) but there are others, including nitrous oxide, VOC, and carbon monoxide. The chart just to the right breaks out what the components of global warming are by gas.
The sum of all these gases is 1.5℃.
That’s what the IPCC is admitting the real total for global warming is now. At a minimum we are already at 1.5℃. Anyone who tells you differently doesn’t understand what this chart says.
