Climate change science thread

[ism22]

I went to see Dr Karl live yesterday and he gave a brilliant overview of how climate change has accelerated over the past few decades.

He showed data on how carbon dioxide concentrations have jumped from around 350 ppm in the early 1990s to over 420 ppm today, which is by far the sharpest rise in human history. That extra CO₂ traps heat in the atmosphere, and the knock-on effects are visible everywhere with hotter oceans, more energy in storm systems and longer, drier fire seasons followed by sudden flooding events.

One particularly striking part of his talk was about cumulonimbus flammagenitus, the technical name for “fire clouds”. These form when bushfire heat drives air high enough to create its own thunderstorm system, complete with lightning that can ignite new fires kilometres away. It’s a feedback loop you’d never imagine outside of a textbook, but we’re seeing it more often in Australia, North America and southern Europe.

Dr Karl also pointed out that the physics has been understood since the 19th century as Fourier, Tyndall and Arrhenius all described the greenhouse effect long before anyone talked about politics. What’s changed is the scale... we’ve now loaded the atmosphere with enough extra energy to shift weather patterns, melt glaciers and alter ocean currents that have been stable for millennia.

The parallels he drew between fossil-fuel disinformation and the asbestos industry were also hard to ignore. In both cases, executives knew the risks, funded campaigns to muddy the science, and delayed meaningful action until the evidence became undeniable. The result? Massive costs for ordinary people and entire ecosystems.

I found the whole thing fascinating both from a scientific and ethical perspective. If anyone here works in climate science, meteorology or atmospheric physics, I’d love to hear your take on where the research is heading next.

[Bates]

When Trump and his goonies are making million$ whilst destroying the planet there is no climate change. GOD BLESS COAL!

It's a different story if China are making the money and Trump doesn't get his cut.

America's poor air quality and dirty ocean is China's fault according to Donald Trump. What a freak! lol.

[Michael Jones]

Did he talk about pollution/greenhouse gases etc during the Industrial Revolution times ?

The widespread burning of coal in factories and homes, for instance, would not have been good for the atmosphere nor for people's health.

Of course no EPA (Environmental Protection Authority) back then either to monitor waste management and prosecute illegal activities.

Factories back then dumped harmful chemicals and waste directly into rivers, lakes, and streams.

In 1825, the world population was estimated to be around 1 billion — in 2025 it's estimated to be around 8.25 billion and expected to reach over 10 billion by 2080.

For some reason, the increase in the world's population is never mentioned by climate folk as being a factor, nor is the increase in economic activity and resulting prosperity in countries since the Industrial Revolution — India and China, for example that were considered third world but now deemed as either developing or developed countries.

In the 1950s/60's, for example, a family of 4 (2 parents/2 kids) may have had only one car. Nowadays, that same sized family could have 4 cars.

[Bates]

Did he talk about pollution/greenhouse gases etc during the Industrial Revolution times ?

The widespread burning of coal in factories and homes, for instance, would not have been good for the atmosphere nor for people's health.

Of course no EPA (Environmental Protection Authority) back then either to monitor waste management and prosecute illegal activities.

Factories back then dumped harmful chemicals and waste directly into rivers, lakes, and streams.

In 1825, the world population was estimated to be around 1 billion — in 2025 it's estimated to be around 8.25 billion and expected to reach over 10 billion by 2080.

For some reason, the increase in the world's population is never mentioned by climate folk as being a factor, nor is the increase in economic activity and resulting prosperity in countries since the Industrial Revolution — India and China, for example that were considered third world but now deemed as either developing or developed countries.

In the 1950s/60's, for example, a family of 4 (2 parents/2 kids) may have had only one car. Nowadays, that same sized family could have 4 cars.

Is your blow up doll biodegradable?

[redwhiteblue]

In the 1950s/60's, for example, a family of 4 (2 parents/2 kids) may have had only one car. Nowadays, that same sized family could have 4 cars.

Many families have mulitple appliances such as big screen TV's as well. I know a family of 5 in Bellevue Hill who all have their own set. I don't have one anymore as I just use my laptop. If the internet is down like it was a few weeks back for me, I read a book and can listen to music before bed. People will walk around with very little on but have a heater blasting.

Don't get me started on McMasions all built so close together which all require air conditioning for 6 months of the year these days either. Plus they are very cold in winter. It's 27 degrees outside but I have a breeze, plus my red, white and blue crochet rug around me as it's cold inside. I love 1930's art deco builings and have been fortunate enough to have only lived in this style since 2012. I don't put the overhead lights on unless I have to as it's a pain to get someone to help me change lightbulbs these days. I prefer to use small lamps anyway.