climate

1997 'Facts'

- Earth is warming faster that at
any time in the past 1,000 yrs.

- Carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels
have risen by about 1/3rd
over the past 250 years.

- The rate of increase in CO₂increase rates are the highest
for at least 20,000 yrs

- Present CO₂ levels
are highest in 420,000 yrs.

- Many scientists believe average
global temps could rise
by 5.8C by 2100.

- Predicted temperature increases
are without precedent during
the past 10,000 yrs.

- Existing human greenhouse gas emissions will continue to affect
climate for generations to come.

- Northern hemisphere's area
covered by ice and snow has
decreased by 10 % in last 40 yrs.

Global warming is melting the Arctic ice faster than expected, and
the world's oceans could rise by about 3 ft. by 2100, swamping homes
from Bangladesh to Florida, Robert Corell, chairman of the eight-
nation Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA), said 11/9/04.
(Reuters Graphic)

- 3/4th of the man-made emissions of CO₂ over the past 20 yrs are due to fossil fuel use.

- Late summer Arctic sea ice has thinned by about 40 %. since record keeping began.