Geotimes
From the Editor
Climate change discourse has
gone through a "sea level change" sometime recently. Where only a decade ago assertions
by climate model-toting arcane scientists were lashed at by dug-in and/or graying
contrarians, we now receive a growing flow of scientific observations related
to current and geologically ancient climate variations. What it all means in terms
of pending climate change is still hardly certain, but the word "likely" is feeling
more appropriate. And while we are measuring current change, a whole "new" science
of ancient climate measurement is evolving.
Let's check the box score. It is a fact that atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased
by 30 percent since the beginning of the industrial revolution.
It is a widely accepted theory that increased atmospheric carbon dioxide will
lead to global warming.
There is growing evidence that global climate is warming, as supported by significant
loss of polar ice volume, sea level rise, 1997 and 1998 being the hottest years
on record, and the 20th century being the warmest in the past 1,200 years.
It is predicted that, with current emission trends, atmospheric carbon dioxide
concentrations will at least double during the 21st century and Earth's average
temperature will rise another 1 to 3.5 degrees Celsius. It is also predicted that
Earth's response to global warming will exceed local expectations in terms of
the rates and magnitudes of changes — for example, extensive flooding in coastal
areas where 50 to 70 percent of Earth's population lives.
It is assumed that even if we stopped emissions now, the impacts of cumulative
emissions would likely persist.
And finally, the predicted global warming cannot now be stopped. I don't know
about you, but this leaves me feeling like the paraphrasing of the Second Law
of Thermodynamics, namely: you can't win, you can't break even and you can't get
out of the game!
The expanding field of climate change studies is a) measuring current changes;
b) investigating geologically ancient changes; c) learning to predict intermediate-range
changes (±100 years); and d) identifying possible social impacts of predicted
intermediate-range changes. This issue of Geotimes presents a sampling of topics
from these diverse fields. If you enjoy your reading, pass the issue along to
friends, or order additional copies for Christmas stocking stuffers.
Matt Huber, in his article, "Global Climate Change: A glance in the rearview mirror,"
presents a fast-moving and informative review of climate change research from
the geological record. His use of the term "proxies" as indicators of past climate
properties somehow eases one's understanding of the terminology-laced vignettes.
In fact, after absorbing "alkenones, boron isotopes, carbon-13, and even stomata
on ginko leaves," my mind flipped spontaneously to the world and words of Harry
Potter.
And speaking of proxies, our second feature by Paul Baker discusses one of the
latest: lake sediments. Baker describes recent work in South America's Lake Titicaca
and the climate stories those sediments tell.
Steve Stanley's essay "To Predict the Unpredictable" is our Comment this month.
He raised two particular points for me: first, our narrow, first-hand experience
with climate will be unbelievably enriched by climate research from the geologic
column; and second, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are not necessarily
a reliable proxy for climate.
And in the News Note "Sea level today and tomorrow," Geotimes Associate Editor
Christina Reed reports on an all-too current issue. We need to answer: What is
going to happen with sea level? How much and how soon? Given the cost of preventative
and remediative measures, coastal communities need short- and intermediate-term
information.
It is shaping up that the earth sciences are to play a major role in understanding
climate change. This is good news for earth scientists and for society.
Believe your compass,
Samuel S. Adams, Editor-in-Chief
P.S.: Although there are a
multitude of information sources about climate change, the number of sources
that do a good job of presenting that information and placing it in a helpful
context are few and far between. My own thoughts have been informed and enriched
by the Environment Canada Web site: www.ec.gc.ca.