Global Warming, No more reefs in 20 years

I seen an recent news article that says cows in the US generate more greenhouse gasses than all other factors combined- I guess we eat alot of beef in this country- I am not giving up on a nice steak but I do think if everyone makes some minor changes it will add up to make a big difference.

 

I've got a dumb question/comment.

First off, I believe in global warming and that we are rapidly changing our environment. I had a big debate on this on another board and was put into the "tree hugger" camp. Without a doubt, IMO, global warming is bad on many levels. Especially the rapid changes that we are experiencing.

On the other hand... CO2 has gone up and down over the years on a geologic scale. If you go back millions of years, you will find periods when CO2 levels were 3-5 times our current "elevated" levels. We are experiencing an un-natural process, but one that isn't out of range of levels caused by natural processes. As water temperatures goes up, won't 2 things happen?

1. Existing reefs will "migrate" into cooler waters and propagate there.
2. Reefs in warmer waters will evolve to deal with higher temperatures. Haven't current reefs already evolved to deal with the "warmest" water on the planet?

Don't get me wrong. Global warming is very very bad. Natural selection and evolution just happens to be very very efficient and powerful. We are killing off our reefs, but given time (Yes, we will all be dead by then.) they may very well expand beyond what we currently see.

The biggest losers in global warming may very well be mankind. Specifically the next 2 or 3 generations. I'm as concerned about my kids as the reefs.

OK, I'm done with today's random ramblings.

 

Blade Runner,

You are true in your debate. As everything in this world changes due to changes. However, the change known as global warming is getting worse do to the things people are taking for granted these days. People just need to learn more about it and start to help the earth. However, when you speak to some people they just dont care as they only have 20 or so years left in their life and they were not raised to care about the environment well. This kinda puts a stalemate on the people that are trying to do something. As we try to evolve around it and do something about it we have the people that dont care and they teach others to not care. This is a harsh cycle to end, sadly to say it will end sooner or later however, we need it to stop now and to change now for the better of mankind.

 

Don't worry too much. I hear the doomsday clock is being moved from 11:48 PM to 11:50 because of the USA vs. Iraq, Iran and N. Korea. Odds are we are going to nuke each other anyway. Then we will have nuclear winter and the problem will be resolved.

Probably not the best solution...

 

I just saw a Nova special, turns out it's too late.

We have pasted the event horizon. Granted we were headed in that direction anyway, but now we sped it up, and there is no way to turn back.

Get ready for an interesting earth, stay away from the coasts is the only suggestion I have. Or build a spaceship and get yourself off this rock.

I think that only America is stupid enough to launch the first nuke, what an interesting end it will be.

The magnetic poles are about to switch soon too, fun fun!