3.5 Urgent Action

What would you consider the largest threats from extreme weather events to where you live?
The American Geophysical Union (AGU) is a union of scientists dedicated to enhance the understanding of geophysical science.
Follow this link to the latest statement on climate change which was released in August 2013 and is titled Human-induced Climate Change Requires Urgent Action. The statement refers to some of the observations introduced in this week’s lesson including increases in air temperatures, sea level and reductions in Arctic sea-ice. What other examples are included in the statement?
The statement also includes climate projections, which we will introduce next week. Having read the statement what would you consider the largest threats to where you live? Post your responses in the discussion below.

The summary report also mentions the increase in sea temperatures and atmospheric water vapour, the decrease in areas of glaciation, snow cover and permafrost, as well as seemingly counterintuitive changes such as regional cooling. These changes will in turn have an effect on the weather patterns globally.

In the UK we are probably most likely to be affected by a change in seasonal weather patterns. As seen in previous links this week the UK is predicted to have wetter, warmer winters, and possible summer droughts. This would have strong implications on the farming industry of this country. We have seen the effects that such weather has on crops and the country’s infrastructure.

The report mentions that the melting of arctic ice could occur more rapidly than predicted. A rise in sea levels would affect a number of countries, globally, in some cases with devastating consequences. Europe has a lot of low-lying areas which could become affected by this, including the East of the UK.