There are still some common myths and misunderstanding about abrupt climate change that needs to be dispelled. Global temperatures have been recorded since 1860, and although the average temperature has risen by about .6 degrees Celsius over the entire century, the last eleven years have produced the hottest years recorded. Furthermore, six of those years were in fact the warmest and have been recorded since 1990. Those statistics alone increase the global warming rate by 1 full degree Celsius over the last century.

Although abrupt climate change is being played down by those who insist that it has occurred by natural causes, and that in an of itself means that it is quite normal to have these temperature variations across time, there is no doubt that man has played a part in this acceleration by releasing carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons within the atmosphere. What we do not know for sure is how much natural conditions, such as storm patterns like El Nino, volcanic ash, and changes in the Sun’s energy contributes to abrupt climate change, anymore than we know how much anthropogenic causes has contributed to this situation.

Another misconception is that the air is the only transporter of heat. Actually the air and the oceans transport heat around the world. The oceans store carbon dioxide, heat, freshwater and salt. Seaweed stores more heat than the atmosphere, but the general differences are that heat can travel faster in the air than in the waters that feed different areas of the globe.

The Atlantic Ocean has the ability to (the Atlantic Heat Pump) transport more warm water to the Artic than the Pacific Ocean. Ocean currents have two properties; they travel by wind and density. The density is the amount of salt coupled with the ocean’s water temperature, this density is known as thermohaline circulation and acts as an ocean conveyor belt circulating cooler waters at its depth going in one direction and warmer waters that are less dense traveling in the opposite direction. Changes in this system brought on by melting ice and the absorption of fresh water into the oceans will change the chemical compound of the oceans. This in turn will interfere with the natural Atlantic Heat Pump function leading to a possible abrupt climate change. It is felt that the cooler period known as the Little Age Ice in Europe ending in 1850 was a result of the Atlantic Heat Pump water density change.

However, the major crisis at this time is not cooler weather but abrupt climate change as a result of warmer weather. Though the earth can be cooler in some places as evidenced by the Atlantic heat pump contributions, it is over all warming up at alarming speeds. We must become just as abrupt as the climate changes to come up with fast solutions to this world crisis.

According to the EPA, there will be no where to run to avoid the affects of global warming, from the deep south to the cold Alaskan weather, rising sea levels and temperature rising well affect all Americans. New England will experience major heat waves and Arizona and the west are singled out as major contenders for extreme high temperature elevations due to their activity as heat producing growing cities, with greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution. These cosmopolitan areas will continue to experience energy shortages, water shortages, wildfire and serious climate change. Right now these areas are seriously approaching the point of no return if nothing is done to remedy the situation.

The effects of global warming has already showed its telltale signs and climate change and global warming disasters will get worse during the next half century. The EPA report also ratifies several parts of previous documentation submitted by an international sponsored climate study spelling out the dire consequences of climate change released to the public in 2007.

Jonathan Overpeck, the director of The Institute of Planet Earth, Arizona State University, released a statement, stating that the United States Government has legitimized warnings of this 2007 International climate study. “The message is coming out loud and clear that climate change is very real.”

The report had several interesting findings specific to the United States. Among them were:

Extreme heat waves resulting in food shortages, droughts, longer summer seasons, floods, and intense storms.

Airborne and water related diseases will cause a rise in lung diseases, asthmas, and more.

Reports of heat induced deaths, will rise among the poor, young and elderly, hitting population in areas without air conditioning or a means to cope with the extreme temperatures.

Tourism, and cold water fisheries will suffer, and a there will be a strain on the governments to meet the crises in various areas as they arise. Millions of people will be affected by water shortages.

Greg Garfin, one of the study’s writers, states that the ecosystem of the Northern and Central Rockies may seriously change due to these predicted future climate changes.

However the study does not offer any solutions on how to stop climate change and President Bush has not agreed to restrict greenhouse gas emissions. He has only now admitted that greenhouse gas emissions play a part in global warming.

The report findings urgently caution that government leaders from the three governmental levels, municipal, state and federal, begin talks and find resolution for “long term sustainability” very quickly before it becomes too late.

The Canadian Great Lakes, has been used as a model to predict global warming conditions, the lake basin analyses to date show that rising water levels from melting ice as a result of shorter winters and earlier springs can cause massive flooding in the years to come. According to Environment Canada, the current sewage facilities will not be able to handle the extra demand put upon them from the water sewage fallout. Ground water experts are currently studying the problem, creating models to help predict future climate anomalies or variations within the Great Lake Basin, and how it will affect human water consumption and aquatic life.

The residents of the Prairie Provinces especially in rural and farmland districts will experience shortages of fresh water due to lower levels of ponds, lake, and dugout water. Furthermore, the climate change effects resulting from lower water levels will alter the chemical make up of this water. Hydrologists are currently creating hydrological models (water system models) to study the impact of water changes in order to predict what the impact could have upon Canada and the world.

Overall the ground water systems in Canada will be adversely affected by global warming. Climate change effects will put a heavy demand upon facilities to produce drinking water. Fish and other aquatic life will suffer because of the change of water levels causing a change of chemical make up within the lakes and streams. The impact of these changes will only increase as time goes by.

The situation is grave for the Canadian people since Canada has much of the world’s fresh water within her borders. The fluctuation of these water levels normally are decided by natural means, but now they have the added burden of man made intervention of greenhouse gas emissions implicated in the climate change effects we see worldwide.

Canada’s Mackenzie River is the largest source of fresh water feeding into the Artic Circle. If the chemical balance of this freshwater is altered, it in turn will affect the saline and temperature (thermohaline) of the world’s oceans, creating a global impact of unknown proportion. The water situation is by far not only a Canadian concern.

In Western Canada research is also going on to analysis existent water trends, and projecting future implications. Similar work is being done in the Mackenzie Delta region, including working with existing models of correlating temperature and water levels and heat and energy levels on land and in the air. Researchers are also studying the impact of melting snow and ice upon the Canadian ecosystem, the impact upon the electrical power plants, the impact upon Canadian wetlands, lakes and northern forests. They are looking at the wild and aquatic life and how climate conditions and water issues will impact upon their habitat and food supply.

Canada is not alone in her fight to understand climate change effects knowing that hydro solutions are necessary now before a domino effect is felt throughout the world.

Scientists believe that as greenhouse gas emissions continue to heat up the earth’s atmosphere, it will affect the ozone layers also known as the stratosphere. The stratosphere is comprised of several levels, while it is in itself the second layer of the earth’s atmosphere. The stratosphere is found between the mesosphere, which is just above it, and the troposphere below it. The stratosphere has different temperatures, and the higher you go up in the layers of stratosphere the warmer the temperatures become. The stratosphere is heated by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. However scientists now believe that global warming climate change will have negative affects upon the ozone layer (the upper level of the stratosphere). According to current thinking, the ozone layer will become colder and because of this development, the cooler layers would impede the natural process of the ozone to repair itself by slowing it down.

We have known for years that Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), found in many industrial and household products, though inflammable and considered safe products, have actually contributed to the depletion of the ozone layers. These compounds have been in circulation in aerosol sprays, coolants for refrigeration units, and other industrial applications since the 1930’s. Scientists found evidence that CFC’s were affecting the ozone layer back in 1973, but only confirmation of what it actually did came through in 1985, when it was discovered that springtime at the north and south poles resulted in lower levels of ozone.

Now such agencies such as NASA, predict that in less than thirty years time, global warming climate change will cause far more depletion of the ozone layer than even the chlorofluorocarbons.

The ozone layer protects the earth from the strong ultraviolet rays of the sun. It is vital to human survival on this planet, and now because of global warming climate change, the hole in the ozone above the Antarctic regions has grown to three times the geographical size of the USA. It is still growing bigger as time goes on. Furthermore, with regards to the North Polar Region, sixty percent of the ozone layer has been lost over the Artic Circle during one winter (1999-2000) alone.

More startling news has surfaced as the hole in the ozone layer has traveled to a somewhat big city. Punta Arenas, Chile, with a population of 120, 000 have been exposed to this global warming climate change disaster due to ozone depletion. These high levels of radiation now able to penetrate through the hole in the ozone are dangerous and have been associated with the higher numbers of cancers in animals and humans alike.

Many scientists have studied global climate change that occurs naturally, but more recently a new science of how humans have affected global climate change has surfaced on the forefront. You will find that many scientists from various fields such as meteorology, oceanography, physics, geology, chemistry. biology, and sociology, just to name a few, have teamed up to add their body of knowledge to this new field of study.

If all the heat in the earth’s atmosphere were to escape to outer space the planet would be too cold to sustain life. The atmosphere is a natural blanket of gases, which keeps certain levels of heat within the earth and regulates a certain amount to escape. However, the rise in greenhouse gas emissions manipulated by human activity has disrupted the natural balance of the planet to regulate itself. It now believed that man is causing this artificial global climate change.

The hydrosphere is the water that surrounds our earth, from the air found in the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans below. Oceans cover at least 70 percent of the earth surface; they act as a major conductor of heat absorbed from the sun. Ocean currents carry the heat from the equator up to each of the earth’s poles. Evaporating water, and quantity of rainfall, also affect the oceans water level and affect their ability to move water around the globe. The ocean, seas, and major water bodies will also impact upon the people of the earth in terms of floods and droughts etc.

We have seen from the past how the ocean’s ability to absorb and move heat around the earth contributes to global climate change and whether by natural means or anthropogenic (manmade activity) they will continue to do so.

The cryoshere represents cold water in solid form such as ice and glaciers. The cryosphere has also a major impact upon global climate change. When there are prolonged warmer climatic changes this solid form of water melts and changes in the ice surfaces will in turn affect the air, sea levels, ocean currents, and weather patterns.

Ice capped surfaces also reflect heat back out into space. When these surfaces are diminished the heat remains in the earth’s atmosphere warming the planet.

The Artic is now experiencing global warming with rising temperatures never seen in 400 years. Polar Ice caps are rapidly melting; especially within the last two decades.

The biosphere is the ecosystem that sustains all forms of life on this planet. The global climate change will effect plant and animal life and disrupt the food chain and habitat of flora and fauna around the world. Many animals live in very specialized “niches” and any prolonged temperature change can become a threat to their very survival.

Scientists believe that as greenhouse gas emissions continue to heat up the earth’s atmosphere, it will affect the ozone layers also known as the stratosphere. The stratosphere is comprised of several levels, while it is in itself the second layer of the earth’s atmosphere. The stratosphere is found between the mesosphere, which is just above it, and the troposphere below it. The stratosphere has different temperatures, and the higher you go up in the layers of stratosphere the warmer the temperatures become. The stratosphere is heated by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. However scientists now believe that global warming climate change will have negative affects upon the ozone layer (the upper level of the stratosphere). According to current thinking, the ozone layer will become colder and because of this development, the cooler layers would impede the natural process of the ozone to repair itself by slowing it down.

We have known for years that Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), found in many industrial and household products, though inflammable and considered safe products, have actually contributed to the depletion of the ozone layers. These compounds have been in circulation in aerosol sprays, coolants for refrigeration units, and other industrial applications since the 1930’s. Scientists found evidence that CFC’s were affecting the ozone layer back in 1973, but only confirmation of what it actually did came through in 1985, when it was discovered that springtime at the north and south poles resulted in lower levels of ozone.

Now such agencies such as NASA, predict that in less than thirty years time, global warming climate change will cause far more depletion of the ozone layer than even the chlorofluorocarbons.

The ozone layer protects the earth from the strong ultraviolet rays of the sun. It is vital to human survival on this planet, and now because of global warming climate change, the hole in the ozone above the Antarctic regions has grown to three times the geographical size of the USA. It is still growing bigger as time goes on. Furthermore, with regards to the North Polar Region, sixty percent of the ozone layer has been lost over the Artic Circle during one winter (1999-2000) alone.

More startling news has surfaced as the hole in the ozone layer has traveled to a somewhat big city. Punta Arenas, Chile, with a population of 120, 000 have been exposed to this global warming climate change disaster due to ozone depletion. These high levels of radiation now able to penetrate through the hole in the ozone are dangerous and have been associated with the higher numbers of cancers in animals and humans alike.

Governments can fight climate change by cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions, and providing incentives for major industries to look into other sources of energy other than through fossil fuels.

More time and effort needs to be put into utilizing existing technology to convert over to biomass technology and new technology should be developed and tested to ease the speed and process of the conversion.

Carbon dioxide emissions are considered to be the number one offending greenhouse gas emission used by man today. Cultivating biomass from agriculture by using corn crops, as a fuel for automobiles and other modes of transportation will help to fight climate change by reducing the amount of carbon emissions from the oil and gas exhaust. Also new prototypes have been designed for hybrid cars running on electricity that not only helps the environment but also cuts down on oil dependency. This factor alone is an economic advantage for western countries.

Governments have orchestrated research on carbon dioxide burial sites within the ground to keep the carbon emissions from rising into the atmosphere. New research to fight climate change resulting from carbon dioxide emissions suggests that burying carbon dioxide deposits under the ocean may prove to be an even better solution in the long run. Carbon dioxide will mix with the existing volcanic rock to create an entirely new compound.

Future technology to fight climate change might include the installation of giant satellite disks designed to reflect heat back into space. Right now critics warn against this new technology stating that the price of such a measure would be astronomical, and more importantly the repercussions of electing for this type of new technology is unknown.

Citizens can also help to fight climate change by making some adjustments in their living conditions at home. For example conserve electricity consumption, turn appliances off and unplug them wherever you can, switch to florescent energy saving light bulbs, turn down your water heater (at all times) and your room temperature in winter months by as little as 2 degrees. Closing you curtains in the evening will keep the heat in and save on your heating bill as well. Only use your washer for a full load of clothes and turn down the water temperature. Turn your heat down when you are leaving the house for extended periods of time. Recycle at home and at work, Avoid using disposables such as diapers, cups and paper plates, plastics, paper towels and plastic disposable razors, etc. These items only serve to add to waste and garbage and clog up landfills. Plastic emit carbon dioxide and are not biodegradable. Do not print more copies of documents than you really have to, save the trees; deforestation is a big global warming factor.

If all parties; government bodies, industry and citizens team up to fight climate change, together we can make a better world for ourselves and our future generations.

There is no secret that many governments on this planet have pledged their commitment or at least willingness to cooperate in the fight against global warming. However climate change facts suggest that some of these attempts might be futile at best.

Climate change facts point to a serious global warming crisis that will change the World, as we know it, by the end of this century. The Earth surfaces will transform due to melting glaciers and other natural phenomena. Rising temperatures will tamper with our current ecosystems, killing off human, animal and insect life. The heat will breed even more swarms of new insects that are adaptable to the new weather conditions in every part of the globe. Epidemics of mosquito related outbreaks of dengue fever, yellow fever and malaria will cause illness and death to millions of people. Droughts, floods, famines, poor quality of water (contaminated water), water shortages, heat waves, brush fires, airborne viruses, respiratory illness and more will plaque our world.

Ecofys is an independent consultant for the environment and they have studied the recommendations of the G8 Nations with regards to their committed on reducing the threat of global warming. They published a report called the G8 Climate Scorecards 2008, their findings are considered by some to be less that promising. Their brand of climate change facts show that within the European nations, though the UK is a head of France and Germany in terms of greenhouse gases emission cutbacks, only the UK has a chance to reach the 2 degree Celsius cut back goal that was decided upon.

WWF, and Allianz which is an international financial service provider, commissioned the Ecofys report. The report took into account nine different factors among which were comparing the work done since 1990 with what is being done today. They focused specifically on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and development of carbon markets goals and policies. The G8 scorecard in this area is very dismal. The Director of the WWF climate change program in Germany, Regine Gunther says, “We have 10 to 15 years left in which the global emissions have to peak and decline. Time is running out.”

In keeping with the climate change facts as with know them, Allianz SE board member, Joachim Faber talks about G8 government involvement and says, “They need to be role models trailblazing the way to steer the world towards a low carbon, clean energy economy,”

According to Ecofys ranking of the G8 industrial countries’ ability to meet target goals, the UK is in the lead and will meet the reduction requirements by the deadline. France is in second place followed by Germany, Italy, and Japan. Russia is falling behind as this country has not yet implemented any national polices. In dead bottom place is Canada (number 7) and the United States (number 8).

There is hope that the climate change facts presented in the upcoming summit meeting in Japan, will lead to target reductions of up to 40 percent in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and up to 80 percent by the year 2050. Officials of the various organizations are also hoping that the G8 industrial nations will pledge technical and financial support for reducing carbon emissions to the poor nations of the world. They want to see that all measures decided upon at this summit meeting will be ascertainable, measurable, and reported.

The Canadian Great Lakes, has been used as a model to predict global warming conditions, the lake basin analyses to date show that rising water levels from melting ice as a result of shorter winters and earlier springs can cause massive flooding in the years to come. According to Environment Canada, the current sewage facilities will not be able to handle the extra demand put upon them from the water sewage fallout. Ground water experts are currently studying the problem, creating models to help predict future climate anomalies or variations within the Great Lake Basin, and how it will affect human water consumption and aquatic life.

The residents of the Prairie Provinces especially in rural and farmland districts will experience shortages of fresh water due to lower levels of ponds, lake, and dugout water. Furthermore, the climate change effects resulting from lower water levels will alter the chemical make up of this water. Hydrologists are currently creating hydrological models (water system models) to study the impact of water changes in order to predict what the impact could have upon Canada and the world.

Overall the ground water systems in Canada will be adversely affected by global warming. Climate change effects will put a heavy demand upon facilities to produce drinking water. Fish and other aquatic life will suffer because of the change of water levels causing a change of chemical make up within the lakes and streams. The impact of these changes will only increase as time goes by.

The situation is grave for the Canadian people since Canada has much of the world’s fresh water within her borders. The fluctuation of these water levels normally are decided by natural means, but now they have the added burden of man made intervention of greenhouse gas emissions implicated in the climate change effects we see worldwide.

Canada’s Mackenzie River is the largest source of fresh water feeding into the Artic Circle. If the chemical balance of this freshwater is altered, it in turn will affect the saline and temperature (thermohaline) of the world’s oceans, creating a global impact of unknown proportion. The water situation is by far not only a Canadian concern.

In Western Canada research is also going on to analysis existent water trends, and projecting future implications. Similar work is being done in the Mackenzie Delta region, including working with existing models of correlating temperature and water levels and heat and energy levels on land and in the air. Researchers are also studying the impact of melting snow and ice upon the Canadian ecosystem, the impact upon the electrical power plants, the impact upon Canadian wetlands, lakes and northern forests. They are looking at the wild and aquatic life and how climate conditions and water issues will impact upon their habitat and food supply.

Canada is not alone in her fight to understand climate change effects knowing that hydro solutions are necessary now before a domino effect is felt throughout the world.

They take in several facts from the world of astronomy to make their claim that climate change is natural. They look at the relationship between the Earth and the Sun, including its distance from the earth as it rotates around the Sun, the shape and distance of its orbit and whether or not its tilt is towards the Sun are away from it. All of these conditions effect how much Sun is actually penetrating the Earth’s atmosphere at any given time.

Many scientists have purported that even though climate change is natural, we have only been seeing a dramatic temperature change since the early 1900’s, incidentally correlating with the Industrial Revolution in the West. However, newer findings suggest that climate shifts occur more often in the past than was previously noted. The Earth was going through a considerable cooler climate (at least 2 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than today) between the 1700 and first half of the 1800’s. This period is often called the Little Ice Age in Europe. While much of our temperature in the 20th century was very similar to that of the 1100 and 1200’s respectively, further building the case natural climate change.

However, the last twenty years of weather analysis has shown a rapid increase in global temperature and thus weakening the claim that our present climate change is natural. Several scientists believe that this global warming suggests artificial interference by humans releasing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and warming up the planet. These claims may also be valid but it does not necessarily dispel the theory that climate change is natural.

Scientists also use other means to analysis weather patterns and climate change over the history of the Earth. Studies have been done to reconstruct the Earth’s climate over the past two millennia using data which is indirectly obtained from ocean’s (sea levels) lake beds, caves, ice and glacier surfaces, and tree rings. Other studies have investigated the radiation levels from the sun with the amount of volcanic dust, in the air (volcanic dust is a catalyst to reflect heat back into space) to estimate how much heat is being returned naturally. These studies point to the conclusion that the changes in the Sun’s rays and changing intensities of erupting volcanoes can lead to climate change.

In the end, climate change is natural and may also be aided by human activity as well.