Climate Change has many Faces
May 12, 2008
Belgium and most parts of Europe register almost summerly temperatures since the beginning of May, in Belgium up to 10 centigrades higher than the long-term average. We all feel happy about ample sunshine and warmth. Few people ask if this is normal. Most of us are unaware that the period between May 9 and 15 has traditionally been marked by a “cold spell” that goes under two old names, “Icy Saints” and the “Cold Sophie”.
At the very same moment, Burma is devastated by violent a hurricane flooding most of the low-lying southern parts of the country, forcing more than one million people to evacuate what is left of their homes and leaving possibly 100 000 dead. Few people wonder if a hurricane of this force is normal at this time of the year. Traditionally, the hurricane season starts in July. The early arrival indicates that water temperatures have already warmed to the level required for generating tropical storms.
We have to learn to connect distant weather events.They may have an identical cause. There is no proof that both meteorological events are due to faster than expected climate change. But there is a strong presumption. Let us take them as a writing on the wall to remind us that we better take climate change serious and really start tackling it. If humanity waits too long it may – one day – no longer be in a position to contain it!
Author : Eberhard RheinComments
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The climate has changed, it always does. The earth stopped warming 10 years ago. It has cooled strongly over the last 2 years. The oceans are cooler. But, looking back severe change occurred during the Dalton minium and the Mauder minimum. Cooling is historically much worse on humans and we have started to cool.