Fight climate change It is of vital importance for the survival of the human species on the planet. Thanks to many scientists and repeated research, we can learn more about the devastating effects of climate change, global warming, the increase in natural phenomena, etc. To better understand these effects, it is important to know how they relate to the differences between climate change and global warming.
Therefore, The BBVA Foundation has awarded its Frontiers of Knowledge in Climate Change prize to climatologists Syukuro Manabe and James Hansen. What have these men discovered or provided to climate science to receive this accolade?
Development of greenhouse gas emission models
Syukuro Manabe, born in Japan and James Hansen in the United States, have been pioneers in the development of mathematical models that are used to calculate the accumulation of gases emitted by human economic activities in the atmosphere. In addition to calculating them, they estimate their impacts on the Earth's climate, which includes phenomena such as deserts threatened by global warming and the impact on the flooding of coastal areas.
Manabe, during his career, has spent much of his time in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Princeton UniversityThere, he began to theorize and develop his numerical models to simulate atmospheric behavior in the 60s. At that time, it was still unknown that CO2 concentrations were increasing significantly, let alone that these emissions could have devastating effects on the climate. Thanks to his research, we know that...
As technology developed, Manabe incorporated digital elements into his research using computers. This helped him create the first global atmospheric circulation model. Thanks to this model he was able to detect that increasing CO2 concentration increased global temperature and if this concentration were to double than it was at that time, the global temperature would increase by two degrees, having devastating effects on ecosystems and irreversible processes.
On the other hand, Hansen, born 10 years later, took reference from Manabe and began his research work that led him to develop a new model and methodology to measure the increase in the Earth's temperature due to the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphereThis increase corresponds to 4 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial era if the current trend continues. As the climate changes, The most vulnerable populations are also affected.
They were able to predict alterations caused by climate change
Other reasons that the jury has valued for giving the award to these scientists is to generate predictions and analysis methods that, even with the advancement of research and technology, have withstood the test of time. Such have been his predictions that already in the early 80s he predicted that climate change would introduce alterations in ocean circulation, arctic ice, or the frequency and intensity of droughts and floods. In this context, the phenomenon of Climate change could also alter lightning, which would have serious consequences. In addition, the plant adaptation to climate change It is an aspect that has been considered in their models.
The press conference of the winners lasted a few hours and they thanked and answered the questions by videoconference. Hansen has commented to journalists and has been forceful about the need to abandon the use of fossil fuels as soon as possible. Of wanting to stop the effects of climate change, This is the only way to avoid the catastrophes that await us.
Hansen has said that for many good intentions and emission reduction targets that countries have set for themselves through the Paris Agreement, curbing gases will be "impossible" if fossils remain "the cheapest form of energy", so has appealed to countries to put a carbon tax as soon as possible. He has also stated that if we want to reduce global temperatures and not increase them above 1,5 degrees, It is only possible if we start to reduce global emissions by 2% per year. This reduction must be done now, because if we wait another decade before making this issue a priority, it will already be too late to stop the devastating effects of climate change. Given this situation, the cities that could disappear due to global warming are a matter of great concern, and if you want to know more, it is important to consult how to Cities could disappear due to global warming.
Finally, he warned that we will lose all Arctic ice in the near future, with serious disruptions to ocean currents, and that half of the planet's large coastal cities will be submerged by rising sea levels by the end of the century. Furthermore, it is crucial to understand how.
