Half a degree extra warming would lead to catastrophic impacts SOME 175 governments signed the Paris climate agreement last Friday to try to limit warming to below 2 °C – and if possible 1.5°C. But no one knows what difference that half degree would make. Now a study estimates that it could have huge consequences for coral reefs, crop yields and fresh water availability. By analysing climate models used in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report, a group of researchers found “hotspots” that would be disproportionately affected by the half-degree rise (Earth System Dynamics, doi.org/bfnt). For the Mediterranean this means an 8 per cent difference in water availability. For the tropics, it means a drop in crop yields of 40 per cent as opposed to 25 per cent, and heatwaves lasting up to three months rather than two. This article appeared in print under the headline “Why 0.5 °C matters” https://www.newscientist.com/articl...a-warming-would-lead-to-catastrophic-impacts/
The fire in Canada looks a lot like climate change -- and that should scare you John D. Sutter is a columnist for CNN Opinion who focuses on climate change and social justice. Follow him on Snapchat, Facebook and email. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his. (CNN)The fire raging in Fort McMurray, Canada sounds like something from the apocalypse. "It was like driving through hell," Michel Chamberland told CNN of his escape from the area. "Those flames, they were bright, they were big ... It's unreal. It's almost like a dream or something." The fire, which has burned at least 325 square miles, forcing the evacuation of some 88,000 people, is so hot and so intense that's it's formed its own weather. The thundercloud produced by the blaze actually is creating its own lighting, and consequently spreading the fire's rage, setting more trees alight. True, there have been fires in Canada's boreal forest for ages. But scientists and researchers say this fire looks a whole lot like climate change. And that should be alarming for all of us... http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/06/opinions/sutter-canada-wildfire-climate/index.html
Maybe you need to look up the statistics for North America on what months do most naturally-started forest fires occur in.
Today's hints, spring provides the most thunder-storms to trigger natural fires. Fall has the most fuel. Naturally occurring forest fires are not a summer phenomena. Non-natural forest fires started by careless campers are prevalent in summer when many campers take summer vacations. This should have been covered in your middle school earth science course.