New Support for a Disturbing Reality

Vast parts of Europe have been thrown into a deep chill with record temperatures and snowfall that have left many dead. What is the probable cause of this phenomena? - Shrinking of the polar ice caps.

Researchers from the NOAA and at the Alfred Wegner Institute in Germany say the cold snap is due to an abrupt change in the Arctic Oscillation. This wind current brings the warm air that ha risen in the Arctic down to Europe, while keeping the cold air up in the Arctic. As the polar ice caps melt, which this summer they have seen their lowest amount of ice coverage in 3 decades, the sun is reflected less and less, and is absorbed. This warming of the Arctic has disrupted the Oscillation that forms basically a wall between warm and cold air during winter months. This effect is being seen throughout Europe.

This is yet just more proof that climate change is happening and we need to act. 97% of scientific researchers that actively research in the climate field agree man is causing/contributing greatly to this recent climate change. There are studies that I will hopefully get up that actually show the temperatures should actually be declining now going into a cool period, but records and data have shown that average global temperatures have been rising over the past century.

This another reason why investing in renewable and clean alternative energy choices are pivotal to our future, not just economically, but for our survival. People may not see the greater effects of climate change now or in the next decade, but we need to take note of the smaller, rapidly growing threats that are happening right now. This issue should not be argued over party lines, but should be agreed upon by all. It is time to start taking note of science, dropping the paranoia that it is government made, and do something now because it is real and it is happening. Denial will not make it go away, it will just make the problem worse. Denial will not hide the fact the temperatures have been rising, man is contributing greatly by adding billions of tons of GHG's into the air, the polar ice caps are melting, and millions of people have felt the effect already of our changing climate. The time to act is not when there is a major disaster, but before. We have as a country acted too many of times after the fact, less often being proactive. Be proactive and take a stand.