[GWSG] Sea ice & Greenland; under Greenland; ; green doctoring; anticipating collapse; 2 tipping regions; benefits of quick action

[Tilley, Al]

1. At one time in the last glacial period the Greenland ice sheet responded to a relatively quick heating of 16.5C, the Dansgaard Oescheger events. That has now been linked to a drop in the sea ice cover in the Nordic seas, such as is now in progress. An abrupt climate change could be in prospect. https://phys.org/news/2020-12-climate-rapidly-sea-ice-decline.html

2. A plume of molten rock has been discovered beneath the Greenland ice sheet. The implications for speed of the ice sheet’s destabilization, and thus of sea level rise, is not yet clear.  https://phys.org/news/2020-12-newly-greenland-plume-thermal-arctic.html

3. 10% of US greenhouse gasses result from our healthcare system. 26% of that results from outpatient care, which thus accounts for emissions little less than those from marine transport or air travel, both about 2.5% of total emissions.  Todd Sack, M.D., describes how the free program My Green Doctor can save practitioners significant money and avoid significant greenhouse emissions. Also avoided will be the loss due to air pollution of many lives annually.  https://www.mygreendoctor.org/green-offices-are-healthier-new-analysis/

4. 250 scientists and scholars from around the world have signed a warning that we should not ignore the possibility of a broad societal collapse this century. Facing that possibility can motivate us to firmer action and better planning. Some communities in the southern hemisphere are already facing collapse. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/06/a-warning-on-climate-and-the-risk-of-societal-collapse

5. Northern China and Australia are facing similar changes in their climate as increasing heat draws out soil moisture and sets up a feedback leading to “unremitting drought.” Other areas face a similar pattern. https://climatenewsnetwork.net/china-and-australia-face-a-climate-tipping-point/

6. A new study shows that immediate action to limit heating to 1.5C will have benefits by midcentury, With such action, “the risk of experiencing unprecedented warming rates would be 13 times lower in the next 20 years, compared with a scenario with continuing heavy reliance on fossil fuels.” https://phys.org/news/2020-12-swift-sharp-emission-years.html

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