RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prognosis for a sick planet
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 569
OP 572
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.8-6-569
VO 8
IS 6
A1 Mark Maslin
YR 2008
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/8/6/569.abstract
AB Global warming is the most important science issue of the 21st century, challenging the very structure of our global society. The study of past climate has shown that the current global climate system is extremely sensitive to human-induced climate change. The burning of fossil fuels since the beginning of the industrial revolution has already caused changes with clear evidence for a 0.75°C rise in global temperatures and 22 cm rise in sea level during the 20th century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change synthesis report (2007) predicts that global temperatures by 2100 could rise by between 1.1°C and 6.4°C. Sea level could rise by between 28 cm and 79 cm, more if the melting of the polar ice caps accelerates. In addition, weather patterns will become less predictable and the occurrence of extreme climate events, such as storms, floods, heat waves and droughts, will increase. The potential effects of global warming on human society are devastating. We do, however, already have many of the technological solutions to cure our sick planet.