Some scientists believe we’re living in the tail-end of the last Ice Age. If that is true, then natural trends will continue to warm the Earth over the coming decades. The massive ice sheets that exist in the Antarctic, the Artic, and Greenland will steadily melt, thus causing sea levels to rise. But natural warming is probably not the only factor affecting the world’s ice. Human activity has also been contributing to global warming.

A study released by the journal Nature claims that our planet’s atmosphere contained 280 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide (CO2) before the era of industrialization. Our atmosphere now contains 370 ppm of CO2. That’s a 32% increase in little more than 150 years. The last 2000 years have been characterized by a lack of seismic/volcanic activity, so the CO2 isn't coming out of the Earth's interior. Industry is largely fueled by the burning of carbon compounds like wood, oil, gasoline, and coal. When carbon compounds are burned (oxidized), they release large quantities of CO2. Humanity is obsessed with the burning of carbon fuels, whether it is in the developed or third world countries. Automobiles are ubiquitous, as are airliners -- all spewing CO2 into our atmosphere. Much electricity is generated from burning coal and oil. Our trees, which breathe CO2 to live, and absorb heat, are being cut down at alarming rates. Third world countries like Haiti have been almost completely deforested by the progeny of overpopulation, burning wood to cook and/or to keep warm. All this CO2 in our atmosphere creates a “greenhouse” effect -- global warming -- by trapping incoming sunlight. The sun’s rays enter our atmosphere and, instead of bouncing back into space, are reflected by the CO2 at the Earth’s surface. Some would claim this situation is nothing to worry about. I’m not so sure.

Beginning in January 2002, Antarctica’s Larsen B ice shelf disintegrated and collapsed into the ocean over a 35-day period. The shelf was 220 meters thick and covered an area of 3,250 square kilometers before collapsing. To give some context as to the amount of ice lost, Rhode Island covers an area of 2717 square kilometers. Larsen B lost at total of 5,700 square kilometers worth of ice from 1997 to 2002. According to the NSIDC, the Larsen B shelf

… existed for at least 400 years prior to this event [the 2002 collapse], and likely existed since the end of the last major glaciation 12,000 years ago. …

This [collapse] is the largest single event in a series of retreats by ice shelves in the Peninsula over the last 30 years. The retreats are attributed to a strong climate warming in the region. The rate of warming is approximately 0.5 degrees Celsius per decade, and the trend has been present since at least the late 1940s. Overall in the Peninsula, extent of seven ice shelves has declined by a total of about 13,500 km2 since 1974.

Also in 2002, a massive area of Greenland’s ice sheets melted. According to the BBC,

Measurements of the Greenland ice sheet taken from passive microwave satellite sensors show 685,000 square kilometres of melt, an area more than double that of 1992. …

…warming has produced roughly 20% loss in Arctic sea ice since 1978.

If sea levels rise, most of the Earth’s population will have to find new homes. Can you imagine the upheavals resulting from such massive human dislocation? If the Earth continues to warm, weather patterns could change everywhere. Land once fertile because of plentiful rains could become un-arable. With a world population of 6 billion and growing, what would happen if we couldn’t feed this mass of humanity -- many of whom are already malnourished?

It amazes me that so many could ignore the clear warning signs of global warming. Collectively sticking our heads in the ground and hoping for the best is not a solution. Ultra-cynicism is just a false form of intellectualism. There are real climatic problems that must be addressed before it’s too late. Hydrogen, wind, hydroelectric, and solar technologies are now proven alternatives to fossil fuels. Why should we keep giving our money to Islamist dictatorships (oil producers) like Saudi Arabia and Iran? It is time for energy independence. It is time to stop propping up Arab/Muslim tyrannies.