global warming and agriculture

[Old Rocks]

Monday, February 9, 2009
*****Catastrophic Fall in 2009 Global Food Production*****
by Eric deCarbonnel




Market Skeptics: *****Catastrophic Fall in 2009 Global Food Production*****
Monday, February 9, 2009
*****Catastrophic Fall in 2009 Global Food Production*****
by Eric deCarbonnel


After reading about the droughts in two major agricultural countries, China and Argentina, I decided to research the extent other food producing nations were also experiencing droughts. This project ended up taking a lot longer than I thought. 2009 looks to be a humanitarian disaster around much of the world


This is precisely what the scientists have been warning us about.

 

[Old Rocks]

MONTREAL, Canada, Mar 10 (IPS) - Some of the first species impacted by increasingly acidic oceans have been identified just as scientists meet in Copenhagen this week to present new data showing that climate change is far more urgent and serious than current economic problems.

One affected species, foraminifera, a sand grain-sized plankton, is responsible for the sequestration of 25 to 50 percent of the carbon the oceans absorb and thus plays a major role in keeping atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations at much lower levels than they would be otherwise. Now scientists have learned that foraminifera (forams) shells are much thinner in oceans made more acidic by the enormous volumes of CO2 released in the burning of fossil fuels.


CLIMATE CHANGE: Acid Oceans Altering Marine Life

It was only a few years ago that researchers realised that human emissions of CO2 were making the surface waters of oceans more acidic. That prompted a rush of new research to determine what the impacts might be. It turns out that forams, other shell forming species like mussels, as well as corals and fish are casualties in humanity's giant, uncontrolled experiment that involves injecting huge quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere.

And we cannot look to the ocean to make up for food losses on land

 

[FactFinder]

Little Discussed Facts About The Benefits of Global Warming

Have the climate scientists ever wondered if Global Warming could make life on earth better? Most of today’s climate studies are concentrated on the negative effects of global warming.

A recent study by Spiegel explores the window of positive aspects of global warming. He quotes in his article that there is a higher possibility of global warming making life on earth better to all species. The worst case scenarios that global warming may lead to, mentioned by various climate scientists are based on extrapolating data, which was collected inaccurately in the earlier half of this century.

Following are some keypoints which will prove that global warming will make Northern hemisphere greener:

How important is CO2 for vegetation?

The result of 20 year long study by five scientists discloses the fact that the vegetation in Northern Hemisphere has increased 8 to 12 percent across North America and Eurasia. This proves that at the continental scale, atmospheric CO2, temperature, and precipitation account for 49%, 31%, and 13% of the increase in growing season LAI [Leaf Area Index], respectively.

What are the benefits of increased CO2 concentration?

Elevated concentration of CO2 enhances aerial fertilization effect, that will work wonders on plants that utilize all three of the major bio chemical pathways of photosynthesis (C3 [typical photosynthesis], C4 and CAM [C4 and CAM are photosynthesis adopted to arid conditions]).

The productivity of herbaceous plants can be boosted about a third in response to a 300ppm increase in the air’s CO2 content. On the contrary, woody plants will show an increase in growth of 50%.

How Tropical Forests are affected by global warming?

An almost 20 year long study conducted by NASA scientists under Kazuhito Ichii on tropical forests in Africa, Asia, and the Amazon revealed that the recent changes in atmospheric CO2 and climate promoted terrestrial GPP [gross primary productivity] increases with a significant linear trend.

What are the effects of global warming on Agriculture?

Agricultural experts says that optimum temperature is actually warmer than it is today. According to them an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide would benefit global plant life.

Is global warming’s benefits restricted to plant life?

Nopes, It is not. Global warming will result in fewer weather related premature human deaths. And hence will reduce human mortality rates pertaining to warmer temperatures.

Global Warming presents us with a bunch of opportunities and challenges. We should aim at converting these opportunities in our favour so that it can fight against the challenges. Instead of getting worried about the drastic ill effects of global warming let us all strive to capitalize the benefits of global warming so that it is no longer a threat for existence of life on planet earth.

Too bad we are now cooling

 

[FactFinder]

Coral Reefs Set For Rapid Growth


13 December 2004
Coral Reefs Set For Rapid Growth
by Kate Melville

In a research paper appearing in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, Aussie scientists say that coral reefs around the world could expand in size by up to a third in response to increased ocean warming and the greenhouse effect. "Our finding stands in stark contrast to previous predictions that coral reef growth will suffer large, potentially catastrophic, decreases in the future. Our analysis suggests that ocean warming will foster considerably faster future rates of coral reef growth that will eventually exceed pre-industrial rates by as much as 35 per cent by 2100," says oceanographer Ben McNeil, from the University of News South Wales.

Coral reefs are built from calcium carbonate when red algae cement together a framework of coral skeletons and sediments. Seawater surface temperatures and the quantity of carbonate in seawater dictate their growth rate. Previous research has predicted a decline of between 20 and 60 percent in the size of coral reefs by 2100 relative to pre-industrial levels due to increasing CO2 levels in ocean surface waters. The new research suggests that present coral reef calcification rates are not in decline and are equivalent to late 19th century levels.

The Australian scientists have observed the calcification-temperature relationship at significant reef-building colonies around the world in the Indo-Pacific and at massive Porites reef colonies in Australia, Hawaii, Thailand, the Persian Gulf and New Ireland. The predicted increase in the rate of coral reef calcification is most likely due to an enhancement in coral metabolism and/or increases in photosynthetic rates of red algae, according to the scientists. "Our results show that increases in coral reef calcification associated with ocean warming outweigh decreases associated with increased atmospheric CO2", says co-researcher Richard Matear. "While initially showing a decrease in calcification up to 1964, ocean warming outweighs the CO2 effect and stimulates recovery of coral reef calcification."

This study was done in 2004 so we have not seen the benefits due to the ocena cooling since 2003. The good news os that after the ocean cools acidity goes down

 

[FactFinder]

Baltimore Weather Examiner: Oceans are cooling according to NASA

Two separate studies through NASA confirm that since 2003, the world's oceans have been losing heat. In the peak of the recent warming trend, 1998 actually ranked 2nd to 1934 as the warmest year on record.

 

[strollingbones]

water will be a problem...look at ca...the food basket blah blah blah well not without water..and the water is beginning to run out...look at drought maps you may be shocked..western nc has been in a moderate to extreme drought for a couple of years now..the feds took water rights away from people out west..kalamath i believe was the name ....water will quickly become a hot button topic...in the south..states are beginning to sue one another over water...following what has been going on in the west for decades..the fight over water rights.

 

[Midnight Marauder]

water will be a problem...look at ca...the food basket blah blah blah well not without water..and the water is beginning to run out...look at drought maps you may be shocked..western nc has been in a moderate to extreme drought for a couple of years now..the feds took water rights away from people out west..kalamath i believe was the name ....water will quickly become a hot button topic...in the south..states are beginning to sue one another over water...following what has been going on in the west for decades..the fight over water rights.

Water.... Yes....

It takes 1,500 gallons of water to make one gallon of ethanol out of corn. So let's burn our food, waste our water, so we can use this fuel, which is "green" ONLY if you consider its slightly reduced CO2 output, but which when combusted produces 100 times as much of the definitely poisonous, definite pollutant CO (Carbon Monoxide) which is toxic to every living thing on the planet.

 

[editec]

Rapid changes in environmental conditions may in the long run have positive outcomes. Who knows?

The trick will be to surive the transition as our society must adapt to the changing conditions.

 

[Old Rocks]

Baltimore Weather Examiner: Oceans are cooling according to NASA

Two separate studies through NASA confirm that since 2003, the world's oceans have been losing heat. In the peak of the recent warming trend, 1998 actually ranked 2nd to 1934 as the warmest year on record.

Most certainly did not. That study was for the US, 2% of the worlds surface. The rest of the world was not that warm in 1934. In fact, 1998 and 2005, depending on which study you choose, are emphatically the warmest years on record for the world.

And the oceans are not cooling, they are warming;
Oceans Warming Faster : Discovery News : Discovery Channel




Oceans Warming Faster Than Realized
Marlowe Hood,




Heating Up June 18, 2008 -- The world's oceans have warmed 50 percent faster over the last 40 years than previously thought due to climate change, Australian and U.S. climate researchers reported Wednesday.

Higher ocean temperatures expand the volume of water, contributing to a rise in sea levels that is submerging small island nations and threatening to wreak havoc in low-lying, densely-populated delta regions around the globe.

The study, published in the British journal Nature, adds to a growing scientific chorus of warnings about the pace and consequences rising oceans.

 

[Old Rocks]

Little Discussed Facts About The Benefits of Global Warming

Have the climate scientists ever wondered if Global Warming could make life on earth better? Most of today’s climate studies are concentrated on the negative effects of global warming.

A recent study by Spiegel explores the window of positive aspects of global warming. He quotes in his article that there is a higher possibility of global warming making life on earth better to all species. The worst case scenarios that global warming may lead to, mentioned by various climate scientists are based on extrapolating data, which was collected inaccurately in the earlier half of this century.

Following are some keypoints which will prove that global warming will make Northern hemisphere greener:

How important is CO2 for vegetation?

The result of 20 year long study by five scientists discloses the fact that the vegetation in Northern Hemisphere has increased 8 to 12 percent across North America and Eurasia. This proves that at the continental scale, atmospheric CO2, temperature, and precipitation account for 49%, 31%, and 13% of the increase in growing season LAI [Leaf Area Index], respectively.

What are the benefits of increased CO2 concentration?

Elevated concentration of CO2 enhances aerial fertilization effect, that will work wonders on plants that utilize all three of the major bio chemical pathways of photosynthesis (C3 [typical photosynthesis], C4 and CAM [C4 and CAM are photosynthesis adopted to arid conditions]).

The productivity of herbaceous plants can be boosted about a third in response to a 300ppm increase in the air’s CO2 content. On the contrary, woody plants will show an increase in growth of 50%.

How Tropical Forests are affected by global warming?

An almost 20 year long study conducted by NASA scientists under Kazuhito Ichii on tropical forests in Africa, Asia, and the Amazon revealed that the recent changes in atmospheric CO2 and climate promoted terrestrial GPP [gross primary productivity] increases with a significant linear trend.

What are the effects of global warming on Agriculture?

Agricultural experts says that optimum temperature is actually warmer than it is today. According to them an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide would benefit global plant life.

Is global warming’s benefits restricted to plant life?

Nopes, It is not. Global warming will result in fewer weather related premature human deaths. And hence will reduce human mortality rates pertaining to warmer temperatures.

Global Warming presents us with a bunch of opportunities and challenges. We should aim at converting these opportunities in our favour so that it can fight against the challenges. Instead of getting worried about the drastic ill effects of global warming let us all strive to capitalize the benefits of global warming so that it is no longer a threat for existence of life on planet earth.

Too bad we are now cooling

Why don't you ask the people in Australia, California, Texas, or the Red River Valley about the benefits of global warming and the resultant climate change.

 

[Old Rocks]

water will be a problem...look at ca...the food basket blah blah blah well not without water..and the water is beginning to run out...look at drought maps you may be shocked..western nc has been in a moderate to extreme drought for a couple of years now..the feds took water rights away from people out west..kalamath i believe was the name ....water will quickly become a hot button topic...in the south..states are beginning to sue one another over water...following what has been going on in the west for decades..the fight over water rights.

Yes, they did finally take the water rights of the people farming in the Klamath Basin. They intended to do it right up front when they first saw there would not be enough water in the Klamath River for returning salmon. Cheney stepped in, made a political issue of it, and the farmers got the water that year. In the fall, nearly the whole of the returning salmon run died. Because of this, and the drought in California, much of the salmon season for commercial and sports fisherman is a memory.

Water, and water for agriculture, will become an increasingly thorny issue. Too much in some places, not enough in others, and some getting the extemes of both ends year to year. This was predicted as a consequence of global warming, and we are seeing it right now.

 

[Old Rocks]

water will be a problem...look at ca...the food basket blah blah blah well not without water..and the water is beginning to run out...look at drought maps you may be shocked..western nc has been in a moderate to extreme drought for a couple of years now..the feds took water rights away from people out west..kalamath i believe was the name ....water will quickly become a hot button topic...in the south..states are beginning to sue one another over water...following what has been going on in the west for decades..the fight over water rights.

Water.... Yes....

It takes 1,500 gallons of water to make one gallon of ethanol out of corn. So let's burn our food, waste our water, so we can use this fuel, which is "green" ONLY if you consider its slightly reduced CO2 output, but which when combusted produces 100 times as much of the definitely poisonous, definite pollutant CO (Carbon Monoxide) which is toxic to every living thing on the planet.

First, no one in their right mind considered food based ethenol a good thing. But the Agri-corps and George Bush liked it. Second, burned correctly, ethenol is far less polluting than gasoline. That bit about CO is another one of your crocks.

 

[Old Rocks]

Rapid changes in environmental conditions may in the long run have positive outcomes. Who knows?

The trick will be to surive the transition as our society must adapt to the changing conditions.

And quite a trick that will be. As we are seeing from the lead article in this thread.

 

[editec]

Rapid changes in environmental conditions may in the long run have positive outcomes. Who knows?

The trick will be to surive the transition as our society must adapt to the changing conditions.

And quite a trick that will be. As we are seeing from the lead article in this thread.

Yup!

Sorta my point, really.

 

[Midnight Marauder]

water will be a problem...look at ca...the food basket blah blah blah well not without water..and the water is beginning to run out...look at drought maps you may be shocked..western nc has been in a moderate to extreme drought for a couple of years now..the feds took water rights away from people out west..kalamath i believe was the name ....water will quickly become a hot button topic...in the south..states are beginning to sue one another over water...following what has been going on in the west for decades..the fight over water rights.

Water.... Yes....

It takes 1,500 gallons of water to make one gallon of ethanol out of corn. So let's burn our food, waste our water, so we can use this fuel, which is "green" ONLY if you consider its slightly reduced CO2 output, but which when combusted produces 100 times as much of the definitely poisonous, definite pollutant CO (Carbon Monoxide) which is toxic to every living thing on the planet.

First, no one in their right mind considered food based ethenol a good thing. But the Agri-corps and George Bush liked it. Second, burned correctly, ethenol is far less polluting than gasoline. That bit about CO is another one of your crocks.

It's a fact, ethanol and any alcohol produces lots of CO. So does propane. It's not my fault you know nothing about combustion processes and chemistry.

And you're a completely clueless fool who hasn't been paying attention -- Obama recently met with the Brazilian President, and blamed Booooosh for us not having ethanol as a primary fuel like Brazil! So, Obama's not in his right mind?

Gasoline burns pretty clean if you don't consider CO2 a pollutant. And it's not one. It's been demonized successfully however despite the fact that internal combustion engines of today are 95% less polluting than their 1970 predecessors. It's all about the completeness of the combustion.

 

[Midnight Marauder]

Baltimore Weather Examiner: Oceans are cooling according to NASA

Two separate studies through NASA confirm that since 2003, the world's oceans have been losing heat. In the peak of the recent warming trend, 1998 actually ranked 2nd to 1934 as the warmest year on record.

Most certainly did not. That study was for the US, 2% of the worlds surface. The rest of the world was not that warm in 1934. In fact, 1998 and 2005, depending on which study you choose, are emphatically the warmest years on record for the world.

And the oceans are not cooling, they are warming;
Oceans Warming Faster : Discovery News : Discovery Channel




Oceans Warming Faster Than Realized
Marlowe Hood,




Heating Up June 18, 2008 -- The world's oceans have warmed 50 percent faster over the last 40 years than previously thought due to climate change, Australian and U.S. climate researchers reported Wednesday.

Higher ocean temperatures expand the volume of water, contributing to a rise in sea levels that is submerging small island nations and threatening to wreak havoc in low-lying, densely-populated delta regions around the globe.

The study, published in the British journal Nature, adds to a growing scientific chorus of warnings about the pace and consequences rising oceans.

NASA says the oceans have been cooling. The Discovery Channel says they are warming.

Hmmm... What happened to the "consensus?"

 

[strollingbones]

then heap on top of all this...monstato and their genetically engineered shit..they now want to take over all seed production and govern who can farm what need them...small farmers are under attack from all sides..people need to go back to local food production not away from it

 

[AllieBaba]

What a bunch of bs. The real scientists say there is no evidence of global warming..and that the true threat to humanity is from global COOLING.

My friends are farmers. They have had BUMPER crops and been paid sky high prices for wheat for the past 3 years.

 

[Old Rocks]

What a bunch of bs. The real scientists say there is no evidence of global warming..and that the true threat to humanity is from global COOLING.

My friends are farmers. They have had BUMPER crops and been paid sky high prices for wheat for the past 3 years.

They have been paid high prices because there is a shortage of the type of wheat that they grow.

Real scientists? Come on, now, Allie, the scientists that make up the scientific societies are not real scientists? And there is no evidence at all for 'global cooling'. In fact, we should be colder than we are right now, considering the La Nina and solar minimum. The fact that the past 13 years have had 11 of the warmest years on record is hardly an indictation of global cooling.

 

[Old Rocks]

Baltimore Weather Examiner: Oceans are cooling according to NASA

Two separate studies through NASA confirm that since 2003, the world's oceans have been losing heat. In the peak of the recent warming trend, 1998 actually ranked 2nd to 1934 as the warmest year on record.

Most certainly did not. That study was for the US, 2% of the worlds surface. The rest of the world was not that warm in 1934. In fact, 1998 and 2005, depending on which study you choose, are emphatically the warmest years on record for the world.

And the oceans are not cooling, they are warming;
Oceans Warming Faster : Discovery News : Discovery Channel




Oceans Warming Faster Than Realized
Marlowe Hood,




Heating Up June 18, 2008 -- The world's oceans have warmed 50 percent faster over the last 40 years than previously thought due to climate change, Australian and U.S. climate researchers reported Wednesday.

Higher ocean temperatures expand the volume of water, contributing to a rise in sea levels that is submerging small island nations and threatening to wreak havoc in low-lying, densely-populated delta regions around the globe.

The study, published in the British journal Nature, adds to a growing scientific chorus of warnings about the pace and consequences rising oceans.

NASA says the oceans have been cooling. The Discovery Channel says they are warming.

Hmmm... What happened to the "consensus?"

Warming Ocean Slows Phytoplankton Growth : Image of the Day



Every day, more than 100 million tons of carbon dioxide are drawn from the atmosphere into the ocean by billions of microscopic ocean plants called phytoplankton during photosynthesis. In addition to playing a big role in removing greenhouses gases from the atmosphere, phytoplankton are the foundation of the ocean food chain.
For nearly a decade, the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) has been making global observations of phytoplankton productivity. On December 6, 2006, NASA-funded scientists announced that warming sea surface temperatures over the past decade have caused a global decline in phytoplankton productivity. This pair of images shows changes in sea surface temperature (top) and phytoplankton productivity (bottom) between 2000 and 2004, after the last strong El Niño event, which occurred between 1997-1998. Places where temperatures rose between 2000 and 2004 (red areas, top image) are the same places where productivity dropped (red areas, bottom image). In general, the reverse situation was also true: where temperatures cooled, productivity rose. The sea surface temperature map is based on data collected by the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensors onboard several