| Copyright (c) 2008 Mervyn Rees | | | | humansare showing signs of imminent |
| | | | extinction. |
| The average temperature of the earth has | | | | |
| increased by about 0.6 degrees centigrade | | | | So far, large mammals have become extinct at |
| over the last 100 years. Because of the | | | | a much faster rate than one would have |
| affect of global warming, scientists estimate | | | | predicted if humans hadn't made their mark on |
| that the temperature will continue to | | | | the planet by burning fossil fuels. |
| increase by about 0.3 degrees centigrade per | | | | |
| decade - that's 3 degrees over a 100 year | | | | His theory is that life on Earth needs to be |
| period. | | | | culled from time to time, with the last cull |
| | | | being the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 |
| Some areas are expected to warm up much | | | | million years ago, and by messing with the |
| faster than others, and some areas are | | | | environment, we've sped up the move towards |
| actually expected to cool down, but the | | | | the next big cull. |
| affect of this, they say, will be floods | | | | |
| becoming more extreme and occurring more | | | | The human race, he says, will die out "soon". |
| frequently. | | | | Don't panic just yet though, in geological |
| | | | terms, "soon" can mean millions of years. |
| The reason why we're told we can expect more | | | | |
| frequent and more devastating floods is | | | | Is this Fact or Fiction? Who will be around |
| because:a) As the sea heats up the water will | | | | to give us the answer, and need we really |
| expand leading to a rise in the sea level.b) | | | | worry? |
| The ice caps will melt leading to more water | | | | |
| in the sea. | | | | Life Adapts |
| | | | |
| Will this really happen? Prediction can never | | | | Greenhouse gas emissions are expected to |
| tell us anything with 100% certainty, but in | | | | increase the temperature in the world by |
| this case there's a very strong possibility | | | | between 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit to 10 degrees |
| that floods will become both more frequent | | | | Fahrenheit. That sounds like a lot... but it |
| and more devastating as recent events have | | | | happens over the next 100 years! |
| shown. | | | | |
| | | | Over the past century humans have adapted to |
| The signs are that there is change, radical | | | | a variety of changes in our environment, and |
| in places, new weather patterns affecting us | | | | if you were to take some turn of the century |
| all too some degree wherever we are. | | | | homesteaders and plunk them down in a car in |
| | | | the middle of New York, they wouldn't last |
| "Better go and find our Water Wings " (Joke)! | | | | more than two minutes! But gradual changes in |
| | | | our environment are much easier to adapt to. |
| Human Extinction | | | | We simply expect things to happen quicker |
| | | | than our forefathers did. While a 2.5 to 10 |
| Could humans be moving towards the end of | | | | degree rise in the next year might be hard to |
| their time on earth? | | | | take, spread over time we will barely notice |
| | | | the change. Ever see the movie Jurassic Park? |
| As per Professor Michael Boulter, a UK | | | | It may have been a fictional movie, but it |
| Palaeontologist from the University of East | | | | wasn't fair in one concept: Life will find a |
| London, large mammals—including | | | | way to survive in spite of the environment. |