Plan B: Climate Change & the Energy Transition

Why is the Arctic warming almost twice as fast as the rest of the world?

http://guardianlv.com/2012/08/arctic-sea-ice-melt-will-polar-bears-survive-the-threat-of-melting-ice/

The warming in areas like the Arctic is causing major damages to the physical environment and those that inhabit it. According to Plan B, over the last half century winter temperatures have risen by 5-7 degrees Fahrenheit (Brown 2009 p. 61). Robert Corell, a chairman for the ACIA, says this region is “experiencing some of the most rapid and severe climate change on Earth.” The melting of the ice and ice sheets is causing rises in sea levels, and is harming the homes and food supplies of humans and animals alike. Polar bears and seals are just two of the many soon to be endangered species effected by this environmental change. Recent evidence has shown that the ice is not recovering like usual during the winter months. Therefore it continues to thin until it is gone completely.

Why do higher temperatures have such a negative effect on crop yields?

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2010/february15/lobell-aaas-climate-022010.html

When I first saw this topic brought up in the Plan B book, I was a little confused as to how warmer temperature effected crop yields. From my little knowledge about farming, I always thought that the warmer the weather, the more crops you were able to grow. Part of that mindset came from me spending my entire life in Florida where it stays relatively warm all year long. An aspect that I never thought about was that crops grow best in a stable climatic environment, not necessarily a warm environment. Although the elevated concentration of carbon dioxide that raise temperature can also raise crop yields, after a certain point the detrimental effect of higher temperatures on yields overrides the carbon dioxide fertilization effect for the crops (Brown 2009 p.69). A common thing I have said throughout my blog posts is that we need to find a balance. I think that applies here also.

What are atmospheric brown clouds?

http://www2.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14629

Reading through the Plan B chapter on climate change was the first I had ever heard of the atmospheric brown clouds. They are made up of excess particles from burning substances such as coal and gasoline. These clouds are creating harmful effects on the climate. If the burning mannerisms are changed into something more environmentally friendly, such as solar power, these soot clouds will disappear. I think we need to prioritize in where our energy source comes from. We won't be able to get rid of fossil fuels completely, but we can reduce how much we use.

Sources:

Brown, L. (2009). Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company.