Effects of Climate Change.
Why should we be worried about a rise in temperature of 1°C? After all, we see rises and falls in temperature far exceeding that on a daily basis! That's what weather does!
However, what the scientists are trying to get across to us all, is an average rise in overall global temperature year on year: i.e. global climate change, not merely local daily weather.
A 1°C rise in global temperature may not sound like much, but to understand what it means, look at the image below. This is a pretty standard 'bell curve' representation, (not to any scale) of the number of times an event occurs, i.e. an event being the local temperature rising to a certain point, whilst we are living with the average, current global temperature. The volume in red to the right is the important factor, showing the total number of times that event (or one exceeding that event) occurs over a particular period.
Now, roll your cursor over the image below, this will increase the represented average global temperature by a small amount, represented by the curve moving slightly to the right.
You'll see the area in red has risen significantly. In fact, that small change represented here has more than doubled the area of the red triangle and therefore the number of possible extreme events.
And, as you'll notice, the gradient of the curve increases as it nears its median point, leading to an ever more rapid increase in area representing the extreme events as the temperature rises further (shown here with a faded curve and green area) meaning that an identical temperature rise on top of the first, has even more rapidly increasing consequences.
This means that with just a small average, global temperature rise, we can expect significantly more extreme events, these including very hot, dry days (which will affect vegetation, animals, (i.e. farm produce), those prone to heat related problems, such as the very young or elderly, the local water supply - the whole local eco-system in fact.)
Already, with a mere 0.75°C rise over around the last century, we are seeing far reaching effects, beech trees for example failing to grow in the south of the country, other trees, plants, insects and animals becoming more susceptible to new diseases gaining a foothold, or failing to breed due to higher temperatures, i.e. frogs, newts etc., after centuries of flourishing happily in their own niche habitats.
There will be similar graphs to represent extreme rainfall events; extreme snowfall events etc. For example a different graph will apply to the cooler months, which may show a windier, wetter, cooler trend in winter - locally - leading to extremes of weather bad enough to damage the economy - as we have all seen recently.
So, the choice is ours. We can sit back and wait for the politicians to do something about it. Or we can ALL take action.
Well, the politicians HAVE done something about it - they have offered all homeowners free or grant aided home insulation. In the UK, homes are by far the worst offenders when it comes to energy use. One solution at least we have been given which we can ALL take advantage of right now. Without it needing to cost the earth!
You can do your bit - and everyone who does so counts towards the total.
Please, click HERE. to apply.
