Then came Hurricane Sandy which made crisis all the more tangible and real. So here's my response... (click to see a larger image):
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© 2012 Sylvia Liu
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Sources for Graphic:
Effects of sea level rise and sea surface temperatures on hurricanes:
Brad Plumer, "Yes, Hurricane Sandy is a good reason to worry about climate change," Washington Post, Oct. 29, 2012 (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/10/29/yes-hurricane-sandy-is-a-good-reason-to-worry-about-climate-change/)
Mark Fischetti, "Did Climate Change Cause Hurricane Sandy?" Scientific American, Oct. 30, 2012 (http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2012/10/30/did-climate-change-cause-hurricane-sandy/)
Effects of Arctic ice melt on jet stream:
"Arctic sea ice extent settles at record seasonal minimum," National Snow & Ice Data Center, Sept. 19, 2012 (http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2012/09/arctic-sea-ice-extent-settles-at-record-seasonal-minimum/)
Andrew Revkin, "The #Frankenstorm in Climate Context," The New York Times, Dot Earth blog, Oct. 28, 2012 (http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/the-frankenstorm-in-climate-context/) (see comment section of article for opposing views)
Mark Fischetti, "Did Climate Change Cause Hurricane Sandy?" Scientific American, Oct. 30, 2012 (http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2012/10/30/did-climate-change-cause-hurricane-sandy/)
Who Has Connected the Dots:
Press release, "North America most affected by increase in weather-related natural catastrophes," Munich Re, Oct. 17, 2012 (http://www.munichre.com/en/media_relations/press_releases/2012/2012_10_17_press_release.aspx)
Mark Fischetti, "Did Climate Change Cause Hurricane Sandy?" Scientific American, Oct. 30, 2012 (http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2012/10/30/did-climate-change-cause-hurricane-sandy/) (list of scientists making the connection)
This is terrific, it also seems to be simplified in relation to the increasingly complex dynamics of the planet. I wonder what will happen when the dots won't be able to be connected at all? The very presence of a vector implies a solution, and I think that solutions - other then running and closing up shop - might be impossible. Everyone here talks about seawalls and new beaches and rebuilding now, and the truth is that all of this will be catastrophically expensive in a region that can't, normally, even afford decent education for example - not to mention the more serious problems of continuous poverty in many areas, and so many constantly homeless. You do though make an excellent graphic given the current state of things! and sorry for being so foggy myself.
ReplyDeleteWe were talking about New Zealand and Haiti recently, and the effects of long-term damage in both areas have been setting in...
Fantastic--you gotta send this to Bill McKibbin, I bet he'd use it.
ReplyDeleteThe footnote raises the question for me: I personally use the slow-burning catastrophe of the planet as a reason (one among many, but still an important one) for why I don't want to reproduce. Is that an inappropriate reaction to these facts, I wonder? It certainly doesn't feel fair to the parents out there.
Fantastic--you gotta send this to Bill McKibbin, I bet he'd use it.
ReplyDeleteThe footnote raises the question for me: I personally use the slow-burning catastrophe of the planet as a reason (one among many, but still an important one) for why I don't want to reproduce. Is that an inappropriate reaction to these facts, I wonder? It certainly doesn't feel fair to the parents out there.
I think it's an appropriate reaction; every one makes her or his own decision on this of course. I have a child (we don't speak to each other, long story), but that was decades ago; I wouldn't have one today. The planet seems too difficult, too impoverished, to me, even too murderous...
ReplyDelete