Iraq War

Peak Oil

Climate Change

US Imperialism

Palestine

Communalism

Gender/Feminism

Dalit/Adivasi

Globalisation

Humanrights

Economy

India-pak

Kashmir

Environment

Gujarat Pogrom

WSF In India

Arts/Culture

India Elections

Archives

Links

Submit Articles

Contact Us

Fill out your
e-mail address
to receive our newsletter!
 

Subscribe

Unsubscribe

 

Devastation Linked To Global Warming

By Gaby Hinsliff and Robin McKie

12 September, 2004
The Observer

Scientists are claiming that the unprecedented ferocity and frequency of the hurricanes that have battered the Caribbean this year can be blamed on one factor: the unexpectedly warm water that has been building up in the Atlantic over the past year.

But some leading US meteorologists reject the idea that this heating is in turn directly linked to global warming. The real villain is the great ocean conveyor belt that ferries warm water from the Equator to the poles, they say. Man-made climate change is a peripheral issue.

Every two or three decades, the conveyor belt picks up speed, scientists have discovered, and in doing so warms tropical waters. In turn, this heating alters atmospheric conditions around Africa, the origin of many major storm fronts. Greater storms are created and more make it to hurricane force.

According to Eric Blake of the National Hurricane Centre in Miami, sea surface temperatures are now 5C higher than recent averages and these have been directly responsible for spawning Hurricanes Ivan, Frances and Charley this summer.

The end result has been devastation. This is the first time in history that one season has produced two storms that have caused more than $1 billion in damage. Combined, Charley and Frances have resulted in insurance claims of more than $20bn. Ivan is likely to match this.

The meteorologists say there is more to come. The warming of the Atlantic that began last year is likely to linger for a couple of decades, creating large numbers of hurricanes.


This idea is backed by historical analysis which has shown that from the Forties to the early Sixties, hurricanes were relatively commonplace in the Caribbean. Then came relative tranquillity, when much of Florida's coastal population took up residence in the state. Now they face a return to the bad old days of tropical storms.

The images of Hurricane Ivan sweeping over Jamaica have added yet another image of climatic devastation in recent months. Although not directly linked to global warming, they have - along with pictures of wrecked harvests and summer deluges - intensified popular concerns about the climate. These fears will be directly tackled by Michael Howard this week when he gives a speech in which he will demand that Americans co-operate more closely on efforts to cut greenhouse gases. Howard will argue that the Prime Minister has failed to capitalise on his relationship with the White House by getting George Bush to sign the Kyoto pact.

'Like the war on terrorism or the drive for responsible free trade, climate change is an international issue that depends on international co-operation,' Howard will say. 'No one can opt out of the fight against global warming. That means persuading the Americans to join the battle against climate change.'

At the same time Tony Blair will make his own speech on global warming but will not directly criticise President Bush. However, he will not shy away from pointing out his well-known disagreement with the White House over global warming. 'It's obvious when it comes to issues like climate change that there are differences,' said a Downing Street source.

Blair has been repeatedly urged by ministers to make more of his differences with Bush to show voters he is capable of standing up to the Republican right on issues of principle. However, he has less room for manoeuvre than Howard, who has already burnt his bridges with the White House after a public spat prompted by the Bush administration's refusal to grant him photo opportunities with the President.



 

Google
WWW www.countercurrents.org

 

 

 

Your Support
Is Absolutely
Necessary
For Our
Survival

Thank You!


 

Search Our Archive



Our Site

Web