The scariest climate science paper I've ever read? | Summary and Q&A

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September 19, 2022
by
Simon Clark
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The scariest climate science paper I've ever read?

TL;DR

A new paper reveals that we have already warmed the planet to the point where five tipping elements in the climate system could be triggered, potentially leading to irreversible and catastrophic effects.

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Key Insights

  • 🥺 Burning carbon deposits has caused an imbalance in the earth's atmosphere, leading to increased temperatures.
  • 😥 Tipping points in the climate system refer to the triggering of significant and irreversible changes in climate elements.
  • 💁 A recent paper identified 16 potential tipping elements, with five already susceptible to being triggered by current levels of warming.
  • 🤕 The consequences of triggering tipping elements range from sea-level rise to the destruction of coral reefs and ice age conditions in Europe.

Transcript

thank you to brilliant for sponsoring this video this is a video about what i think might be the scariest climate science paper i've ever read imagine a bucket that has a hole in the bottom and is fed by a tap if the flow of water out of the hole matches the flow in from the tap the level of water in the bucket stays constant if however there is an... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the concept of tipping points in climate science?

Tipping points refer to the point at which a slight imbalance in the climate system triggers a significant and potentially irreversible change in a climate element, such as the collapse of ice sheets or die-off of coral reefs.

Q: What are the potential consequences of triggering these tipping elements?

The consequences of triggering tipping elements range from sea-level rise due to ice sheet collapse, amplification of warming from permafrost thaw, the return of ice age conditions in Europe, and the destruction of coral reefs, impacting marine ecosystems and food sources for millions of people.

Q: How many tipping elements have already reached their tipping point due to warming?

While none of the tipping elements have been confirmed to have reached their tipping point, the paper suggests that five elements, including the collapse of the greenland and west antarctic ice sheets, widespread permafrost thaw, the collapse of convection in the labrador sea, and massive die-off of tropical coral reefs, are already possible at current warming levels.

Q: What is the significance of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius?

Limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius would reduce the likelihood and intensity of triggering additional tipping elements, as well as preserving those already susceptible. However, current trends indicate that we are on track for higher levels of warming, increasing the risk of catastrophic climate change.

Summary & Key Takeaways

  • The earth's atmosphere is experiencing an imbalance caused by burning carbon deposits, preventing thermal energy from leaving the planet and increasing the average temperature.

  • A 2008 paper introduced the concept of tipping points in climate science, identifying nine potential tipping elements in the climate system.

  • A recent paper has expanded the number of potential tipping elements to 16, with five of them already susceptible to being triggered by current levels of warming.

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