RESEARCHERS ANALYZE COMPOUNDING EFFECTS
This last year has been a tough one for many communities suffering from extreme weather events. Many parts of the globe have suffered flood damage, devastating hurricanes, deadly tornado activity hundreds of miles long, extensive droughts, “atmospheric river rain events”, extreme cold events, and raging fires. The total loss of lives and property is off the charts. Scientists know that human caused emissions are largely responsible for the changes in the climate that is driving these extremes. Most of the research into the causes of individual events has been focused on the physical elements when the events occur. Recently, researchers are using high-resolution computer models and other research tools to try to understand the interactions of these extreme events on each other and how the compounding effects make them even more dangerous.
One such study has been conducted by ocean researchers from the University of Bern, University of Tasmania and ETH-Zurich. They found that there were several compounding influences that caused marine ecosystem death in what was known as the “Blob”. The “Blob” was a bubble of warm water, caused by an ocean heat wave (2013 to 2015) in the North Pacific Ocean that spread along the US west coast from Alaska to the equator. The warmer water killed millions of fish, birds and other marine life in its path. Their study, published this year, showed that it was more than just the warm water that caused just a disaster. At the same time, the ocean water itself was becoming more acidic and other conditions were at work causing an extreme lack of oxygen. Marine life could not survive the combined forces. The study, published in the journal, Nature, calls for more research to be done to study the compounding effects of extreme weather events. Such a study might alarm climate change skeptics and point the way to ending spiraling emissions and inform every one of the compounding effects of global warming.
EARTH STEWARD ACTION: Be an advocate for scientific research of climate change in your social circle. Donate to a proven environmental group as the New Year begins.
SOURCE: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211216150204.htm