Climate change is real!

 Dr. Gene Takle (right) and I (left)

I rode my bike yesterday to hear the director of Iowa State University Climate Science Program, Dr. Gene Takle.  He spoke spoke on "Responding to Climate Change: Avoiding the unmanageable and managing the unavoidable."

He noted the catastrophic impact a rise in temperature of 2 degrees Celsius would have on the world.  It took over 18,000 years for the earth to rise 8 degrees Celsius, which moved us out of the Ice Age.  We've already risen 0.6 degrees just since 1900.  We must work diligently to avoid dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.  To do this will require us to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions down to zero by 2070.  We've already lost half of our sea ice in the past 40 years.

In addition to global warming there is now a tendency for the springs to be wetter, falls drier.  We will continue to experience more extreme floods and droughts and weather events. The stratosphere is getting cooler while the troposphere is warming.

Scenery along the bike trail

When asked about what we can do as individuals to address the serious nature of climate change Gene's first response was VOTE, VOTE, VOTE.  Isn't it amazing that we have politicians who refuse to address the issue of climate change?  He also suggested we consume less.  The things we consume all emit pollution; including the production, use and disposal.

One of the benefits of riding my
bike to Dr. Takle's presentation was
seeing wildlife along the way

In addition to being an environmental role model, Gene Takle is also a running hero of mine.  In 1965 he won the national Division II cross country meet, while a student at Luther College.