Numbskulls abound. It is not only the primary elements and the publicised secondary effects, So I thought I would list some of the less visible impacts.
- Sea level rise by millimetres – this has a greater impact. During a storm those millimetres may mean the difference between inundation or safety. Flood defences are not updated often – there are concerns regarding the effectiveness of the Thames Barrier. Erosion is also increased – this has had huge impacts in Alaska and closer to home – they might have to move the Beachy Head lighthouse inland again, sooner than predicted. I suspect there is a lot more to add here.
- Sea temperatures changing. This impacts in a variety of ways, coral bleaching is the most apparent, but it can also impact on the habitats of sea creatures – Sharks being the most apparent. But it may have an impact of ocean currents (The day before yesterday scenario that was laughed at).
- These changes could have an impact on the jet stream and lead to a markedly different climate for W.Europe and especially the UK. The fuckwits and knuckle draggers will rejoice in sunny weather for the beach until the beach is eroded and winter sub-zero temperatures become ‘normal’
- Nature is a jigsaw of interlocking pieces in all dimensions. (I do not understand concepts about more than 4 dimensions – but thought I would cover my back). Earlier summers – elderflowers are def 2/3 weeks earlier to flower – may be a topic for polite discussion – but for migratory species it can mean that their food source is no longer available. Are chemicals really to blame for the absence of insects? We have been using them for a long time, but the disappearance has been quite sudden.
- Glaciers provide much of the human worlds water supply, as they melt – and the evidence is horrific – much of Asia fed by the great rivers, Yangtse, Indus, Mekong, Huang He,Ganges, Irrawaddy, Salween, Brahmaputra will face drought and environmental disaster – and their only hope will be migration.
- As permafrost melts methane is released – a very harmful greenhouse gas.
- I am sure that there will be many, many more subtle changes that will be harmful.