Global Warming Affecting Weather Patterns
Global Warming Today
The intense winter weather continue to baffle people about the effects of global warming on weather . The intensity of the winter weather has been consistent for the past two years; hence, many still continue to doubt the truth and accuracy of the global warming information furnished by scientists.
The record-breaking ice melt in the Arctic region in 2008, led scientists to believe that the change in the climate system is almost near the” tipping point”. The use of the phrase “tipping point” refers to that maximum limit by which the Earth will undergo climate change. Upon reaching this point, the gradual climate changes that have crept in our earthly existence will kick into full blast where no one can tell where it is going.
Even in March 2007, researchers have predicted that climate zones will disappear by 2100, leaving the world with hardly an idea as to what climate to expect. Climate indicators found in tropical highlands, and in regions near the poles will completely vanish. Hence, tropics and sub-tropic regions may develop altered climates no one has seen before.
In May 2008, climate-change researchers sought the help of botanists and phenologistsinasmuch as global warming is affecting weather patterns. They are trying to track climate changes by recording the time at which the first bud appeared, the first flower bloomed, and the seed dispersal activity. In fact, they are encouraging ordinary people to record information about the timing and cycle of the plants and animals in their neighborhood.
However, new evidence about global warming were gathered from studies of ice cores, which indicate that extreme climate changes are natural global phenomena. Read a separate article entitled What can Ice Cores Tell Us, if Global Warming is a Natural Phenomenon?
Winter Weather in Tropical and Sub-tropical Regions
We should also consider that the effects of global warming reaches beyond the place where we are now, in order to fathom that change in climate and temperature is happening globally. As the climate-researchers have foreseen in 2007, the tropical and sub-tropical regions have indeed, experienced altered climates.
Consider this incident in January 06, 2008 when Iran was hit by the heaviest snowfall they have ever experienced. Several people died because of the extreme cold. There were those who found themselves trapped in their cars and the homeless had no choice but to bear the cold in the streets. What’s more startling is that some desert areas even received snowfall for the first time in history.
In other parts of the globe, Buenos Aires was unprepared for snow since the last recorded snowfall in this country was 89 years ago. Nearby, the people of Peru suffered from an intense cold spell where hundreds of people died; prompting the government to declare 14 of their provinces under a “state of emergency.” Its neighbor Chile, through its agriculture minister, sadly reported losses of at least $200 million in destroyed crops and livestock brought by the toughest winter this country ever experienced in the past 50 years.
Colder Winter Weathers Despite Global Warming Explained
In 2008, extreme winter storms in the US and Canada caused damage to properties by freezing the power lines, trees and causing accidents due to strong winds and heavy snowfall. In Colorado, there was an incident where a bus running on 20% biodiesel was stranded on Interstate 70 in the mountains. The biodiesel solidified due to extreme cold despite the fact that the bus engine was running.
What climate researches say is that comparisons should not be based on the recent winter temperatures but should include those winters that began after global warming. The cold weather experienced recently is basically and characteristically the kind of winter we experienced before carbon dioxide saturated the Earth’s atmosphere. Studies about ice cores showed that global climate cycle included climate changes from global warming to global cooling until the Earth reaches Full Glacial World or Ice Age. .
Climate scientists explain that a present cyclical change in the Pacific Ocean known as La Nina is bringing about these cold icy spells and wind chills. The cold ocean surface near the equator is causing the cold winter in the US and other parts of the globe. After this cycle, expect the warming effects of its opposite, El Nino.
Researchers have voiced out that it is quite distressing not to know what will happen. The climate issue is all very complex and not just one sided. All they know is that we are in for several ecological surprises. There is much concern for those who do not have the means to adjust, with whatever changes and effects of global warming on the weather, will bring.
