and global warming having major effects sooner than predicted:
Global warming is ocurring more rapidly than predicted and causing major effects currently that are being rapidly augmented by positive feedback mechanisms related to conditions caused by global warming. There is a rapid warming of the ocean surface temperatures that is having major effects including:
a. more and more energetic hurricanes
b. rapid declines in phytoplankton populations in widespread areas which have induced major declines in all sea life in the ecosystem dependent on the phytoplankton chain, including snails, muscles, worms, small fish, predator fish species, birds, sea mammals, etc.
c. bleaching and harm to coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems
d. declining oceans fiseries
e. increased desertification and droughts
f. major increases in weather related natural disasters and in insurance company claims to deal with natural disasters.
g. Melting of the arctic sea ice, with major degradation of habitat for polar bears, seals, etc. and major positive feedback increase in global warming due to decreased reflection of solar radiation.
h. Rapid melting of vast areas of Siberian and arctic permafrost areas for the first time in recorded history, with huge positive global warming feedback mechanism due to release of methane from the previously frozen permafrost peat bogs.
i. Major slowing of Gulf Stream flow especially in the north Atlantic, due to changes in arctic sea ice and salinity differential in that area that drives the Gulf Stream flow. This is expected to induce rapid cooling of the Eurpean continent and perhaps the beginning of a new ices age affecting that area in the near future
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