Global Warming Threat to Polar Bears

[CAH]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- A conservation group filed a formal petition seeking to list the polar bear as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act, saying global warming could make it extinct by the end of the century.

The Arctic sea ice habitat polar bears use for feeding, mating and maternity denning is breaking up earlier each spring and forming later in the autumn, said Kassie Siegel, lead author of the petition submitted Wednesday by the Center for Biological Diversity.

The petition sets off a 90-day review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and an evaluation of whether further study is warranted, said Rosa Meehan, chief of the agency's marine mammal management program.

Alaska has two populations of polar bears, Meehan said. She said the Beaufort Sea stock off Alaska's northern coast, estimated at 2,000 animals, is stable or increasing.

Less is known about the Bering-Chukchi stock off Alaska's northwest coast, where the population is shared with Russia. A 1998 estimate put their numbers at 2,000 to 5,000.

The Fish and Wildlife Service estimates there are 22,000 to 25,000 polar bears worldwide.

The petition calls global warming the primary threat to polar bears. Shorter periods of sea ice give polar bears less time to hunt their primary source of food, ringed seals, Siegel said.

more:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/02/17...s.ap/index.html

[Fred Derf Veteran]

The Inuit are rightly concerned as well. For one thing, they've had to deal with mosquitos in recent years. Seriously though, they arctic ice sheets are getting rather thin and it's becoming dangerous.

[multimediatechy]

I saw something recently on the news regarding this issue...it showed people in alaska talking about the different climate now with less snow and houses sinking because the ground had become more unstable as a result. Life there would be one of the more obvious changes in recent times...its only a matter of time before the rest of the world catches up. We need to act now as time is creeping away - people are crazy saying its natural occurrence - of course its NOT!! We shove planes, space rockets into the sky, have cars, trucks etc on the roads, have factories etc. We take things for granted.

[rumbleph1$h]

people are crazy saying its natural occurrence - of course its NOT!!

585495323[/snapback]

What makes you so sure? Even the most respected of scientists and geologists cannot come to a firm conclusion on 'global warming'.

[CAH]

^ I guess sea levels will have to rise a few feet until people believe in Global Warming. :laugh:

[shockz]

What makes you so sure? Even the most respected of scientists and geologists cannot come to a firm conclusion on 'global warming'.

585497212[/snapback]

Evidence is everywhere... but its just labled a coincidence.

[multimediatechy]

^ I guess sea levels will have to rise a few feet until people believe in Global Warming. :laugh:

585498536[/snapback]

bet rumbleph1sh drives an SUV then and i am not surprised that you are one of the ones who believe it is a natural occurrence....i disagree....people just don't care...i'd hate to be born in the future as there wont be as many animals etc around...that would be awful.

[rumbleph1$h]

bet rumbleph1sh drives an SUV then and i am not surprised that you are one of the ones who believe it is a natural occurrence....i disagree....people just don't care...i'd hate to be born in the future as there wont be as many animals etc around...that would be awful.

585500486[/snapback]

Sorry to disappoint, but I don't drive an SUV. Neither am I the redneck goat farmer you clearly are trying to make me out to be. I have participated in an international society of environmental engineers for several years now, so this subject matter is something which is often entertained. Additionally, I never said I believe its a 'natural occurrence' as you so bluntly put it either, only that scientists have a great deal of difficulty interpreting the overall picture of 'global warming'. I do believe that increased levels of pollution over the past century are partially responsible for the relatively small increase in global temperature in recent decades. Is it a problem to the extent you make it out to be? Maybe - but as of right now, the world is not 100% sure. People often neglect to consider the effects of other pollutants which have a cooling effect on the earth and other pertinant aspects. Of course global warming is something we should consider, but I believe with the advent of alternative fuel sources and advancements of technologies within the industrial and transportation sectors, the effects of human pollutants on global warming will diminish over the next several decades.

[multimediatechy]

Sorry to disappoint, but I don't drive an SUV. Neither am I the redneck goat farmer you    clearly are trying to make me out to be. I have participated in an international society of environmental engineers for several years now, so this subject matter is something which is often entertained.  Additionally, I never said I believe its a 'natural occurrence' as you so bluntly put it either, only that scientists have a great deal of difficulty interpreting the overall picture of 'global warming'.  I do believe that increased levels of pollution over the past century are partially responsible for the relatively small increase in global temperature in recent decades.  Is it a problem to the extent you make it out to be? Maybe - but as of right now, the world is not 100% sure. People often  neglect to consider the effects of other pollutants which have a cooling effect on the earth. Global warming is something we should consider, but I believe with the advent of alternative fuel sources and advancements of  technologies within the industrial and transportation sectors, the effects of human pollutants on global warming will diminish over the next several decades.

585500848[/snapback]

you sounded like you believed it was a natural occurrence to me as that was the view you put forward. Its that view that is slowing down the advance of alternative fuels and renewable energy sources. We'd better get a move on for alternative fuel sources as the guys at shell are quite happy pumping out oil right now. It's not something I worry about every day but I do think people should be aware that its not just our generation that will live on this planet...there is too much greed in the world (greed for money is the biggest problem unfortunately).

[Harry]

Whether it is natural or not, there is no doubt we are causing massive damage to the earth, wheter it is through deforestation or air and sea pollution. There needs to be less attention to things like gay marriage and more on saving the planet we live on.

[Codegen]

You also do have to admit, whenever you fart, you are releasing methane, I believe. A greenhouse gas.

[bryzoid89]

You also do have to admit, whenever you fart, you are releasing methane, I believe.  A greenhouse gas.

585507326[/snapback]

LOL. So very true.

[SaLiVa]

We shove planes, space rockets into the sky, have cars, trucks etc on the roads, have factories etc. We take things for granted.

585495323[/snapback]

Space Rockets arent immediately a risk to the natural environment. Their waste product is Water. There might be some waste products made during manufacture though, but sending them off isn't as dangerous as the average car owner drives his car everyday.

I love Polar Bears, and Pengiuns. Cute things...

[jackwanders]

I saw something recently on the news regarding this issue...it showed people in alaska talking about the different climate now with less snow and houses sinking because the ground had become more unstable as a result. Life there would be one of the more obvious changes in recent times...its only a matter of time before the rest of the world catches up. We need to act now as time is creeping away - people are crazy saying its natural occurrence - of course its NOT!! We shove planes, space rockets into the sky, have cars, trucks etc on the roads, have factories etc. We take things for granted.

585495323[/snapback]

The problem with your viewpoint is that you look at the world with a very narrow viewpoint. You look at the planet as it's been during your lifetime, and you're failing to take into account the past 4.5 billion years. The planet (and its climate) is a complex and dynamic beast. It's changed before, it's changing now, and it will change in the future. Did you know this planet has had multiple atmospheres? We're on the fourth I believe. For the last 450,000 years, the planet has gone through a 100,000 climate cycle. 90,000 years of gradual warming, followed by 10,000 years of steep cooling. The current warming trend started about 89-90 thousand years ago. The next ice age is right around the corner, so to speak.

My point is that the planet changes, but people look around and expect everything to stay the same. Because we are aware of the world we live in, should we honestly expect the planet to now become static, no more heat waves, no more ice ages, no more extinction, no more speciation?

Now don't get me wrong and assume that I'm of the "global warming is a farce" crowd. Anyone with that opinion is a jackass, to be frank. Human activity is definitely contributing to the warming trend. That's obvious. It's also obvious that deforestation and land use are also contributing to changes in surface temperature. Less forests means less CO2 getting converted to O2, meaning more CO2 in the atmosphere. Urban areas retain much more heat than rural areas, also contributing to higher temperatures. What's not obvious is how much human activity is affecting the warming trend. Are we causing a lot of warming, or just a little? No one can say. The best scientists in the world can't come to a conclusion.

Should we find ways to reduce pollution and emissons? Of course. Should we help species that are becoming extinct as a direct result of human activities? Obviously. What I have a problem with is when people try to 'preserve' something we had no hand in altering in the first place. You should read about our 'preservation' efforts in Yellowstone park when it was first set up. In one word, abysmal.

Even if humans halted all pollution and emissions and somehow managed to clear the atmosphere of all the stuff we've put into it over the last 150 years, the planet would still warm up, and the planet will still go into an ice age, as it has for the last half million years. That's a fact.

[multimediatechy]

Excuse me pal....look I know that the earth has gone through phases of climate change over the past 4.5 billion years so cut the bull - i think that we take the world for granted too though as we think we can just do what we want with the earths resources and suffer no consequence (bit stupid to think that way surely). I was only stating a problem with human nature. I don't think pollution is a good thing at all - who the heck wants smog filled cities etc???!!!???

The problem with your viewpoint is that you look at the world with a very narrow viewpoint.  You look at the planet as it's been during your lifetime, and you're failing to take into account the past 4.5 billion years.  The planet (and its climate) is a complex and dynamic beast.  It's changed before, it's changing now, and it will change in the future.  Did you know this planet has had multiple atmospheres?  We're on the fourth I believe.  For the last 450,000 years, the planet has gone through a 100,000 climate cycle.  90,000 years of gradual warming, followed by 10,000 years of steep cooling.  The current warming trend started about 89-90 thousand years ago. The next ice age is right around the corner, so to speak.

My point is that the planet changes, but people look around and expect everything to stay the same.  Because we are aware of the world we live in, should we honestly expect the planet to now become static, no more heat waves, no more ice ages, no more extinction, no more speciation? 

Now don't get me wrong and assume that I'm of the "global warming is a farce" crowd.  Anyone with that opinion is a jackass, to be frank.  Human activity is definitely contributing to the warming trend.  That's obvious.  It's also obvious that deforestation and land use are also contributing to changes in surface temperature.  Less forests means less CO2 getting converted to O2, meaning more CO2 in the atmosphere.  Urban areas retain much more heat than rural areas, also contributing to higher temperatures.  What's not obvious is how much human activity is affecting the warming trend.  Are we causing a lot of warming, or just a little?  No one can say.  The best scientists in the world can't come to a conclusion.

Should we find ways to reduce pollution and emissons?  Of course.  Should we help species that are becoming extinct as a direct result of human activities?  Obviously.  What I have a problem with is when people try to 'preserve' something we had no hand in altering in the first place.  You should read about our 'preservation' efforts in Yellowstone park when it was first set up.  In one word, abysmal.

Even if humans halted all pollution and emissions and somehow managed to clear the atmosphere of all the stuff we've put into it over the last 150 years, the planet would still warm up, and the planet will still go into an ice age, as it has for the last half million years.  That's a fact.

585515886[/snapback]

[jackwanders]

Excuse me pal....look I know that the earth has gone through phases of climate change over the past 4.5 billion years so cut the bull - i think that we take the world for granted too though as we think we can just do what we want with the earths resources and suffer no consequence (bit stupid to think that way surely). I was only stating a problem with human nature. I don't think pollution is a good thing at all - who the heck wants smog filled cities etc???!!!???

585516432[/snapback]

There's no bull in my post. You said that "it" (global warming) is not a natural occurence, and you stated such quite emphatically. I'm rebutting your statement by showing that global warming is indeed a natural occurence, we're just pushing it a bit higher as a result of emissions and pollution.

Obviously no one wants smog filled cities...

[multimediatechy]

There's no bull in my post.  You said that "it" (global warming) is not a natural occurence, and you stated such quite emphatically.  I'm rebutting your statement by showing that global warming is indeed a natural occurence, we're just pushing it a bit higher as a result of emissions and pollution.

Obviously no one wants smog filled cities...

585516461[/snapback]

you were being totally insulting with your "did you know" stuff - there is no need for that :no:

It should be a more important issue than it is though...I can see I am clearly wasting my time here though.

[jackwanders]

you were being totally insulting with your "did you know" stuff - there is no need for that  :no:

It should be a more important issue than it is though...I can see I am clearly wasting my time here though.

585516520[/snapback]

If asking you about your knowledge of the planet is insulting to you, then perhaps you are wasting your time here.

Global warming is a huge issue. In fact, some groups are tring to make it a bigger issue than it has any right being at this point in time. Our knowledge about the phenomenon is simply too limited to jump to any kinds of conclusions right now.

Don't think I'm trying to say that it's ok to continue as we are. it's not. pollution and emissions effect more than just the atmosphere. it affects our health, and that alone should be reason enough to cut down.

[multimediatechy]

If asking you about your knowledge of the planet is insulting to you, then perhaps you are wasting your time here.

Global warming is a huge issue.  In fact, some groups are tring to make it a bigger issue than it has any right being at this point in time.  Our knowledge about the phenomenon is simply too limited to jump to any kinds of conclusions right now.

Don't think I'm trying to say that it's ok to continue as we are.  it's not.  pollution and emissions effect more than just the atmosphere.  it affects our health, and that alone should be reason enough to cut down.

585516657[/snapback]

fine thats settled as I agree with what you are saying so don't see what the issue is here...and yes i probably am wasting my time on neowin as its daft having a conversation like this if people get the wrong idea etc all the time. You too are wasting your time on here as we have just gone round in circles over this. Perhaps thats the problem - too much hot air and not enough action!!

[CAH]

But how many on Earth really want to return to freezing cold winters and deep snow ? :unsure:

[jackwanders]

But how many on Earth really want to return to freezing cold winters and deep snow ? :unsure:

585518086[/snapback]

Do you think there's anything we can do to stop it? Do you really think we as humans can somehow prevent the natural climate cycle of the planet? Our contributions to global warming are most likely delaying the onset of the next ice age, but nothing we can do is going to stop it from coming.

[GenesisNZ]

Sorry to disappoint, but I don't drive an SUV. Neither am I the redneck goat farmer you    clearly are trying to make me out to be. I have participated in an international society of environmental engineers for several years now, so this subject matter is something which is often entertained.  Additionally, I never said I believe its a 'natural occurrence' as you so bluntly put it either, only that scientists have a great deal of difficulty interpreting the overall picture of 'global warming'.  I do believe that increased levels of pollution over the past century are partially responsible for the relatively small increase in global temperature in recent decades.  Is it a problem to the extent you make it out to be? Maybe - but as of right now, the world is not 100% sure. People often  neglect to consider the effects of other pollutants which have a cooling effect on the earth and other pertinant aspects. Of course global warming is something we should consider, but I believe with the advent of alternative fuel sources and advancements of  technologies within the industrial and transportation sectors, the effects of human pollutants on global warming will diminish over the next several decades.

585500848[/snapback]

I'm sure as you already know, a partial increase of just 1degree of the worlds temperature can cause a offset in the worlds climate and possible trigger a ice-age. Do not shrug the aside the fact the change is small in theatrical terms, because in practice its huge.

The main cause of global warming (ie the unnatural heating of the earth) is humans. There are other factors contributing, but the main factor is man and it's pollution. I can't see why people are so afraid to take action over this or even admit to it?

And I seriously doubt human pollutants will start to fall 'over the next several decades', I think you fail to miss the amount of billions (or is it trillions now?) America makes off Oil. It's sad to see the most powerful nation on this earth shrug this issue aside, but its a fact at the moment. And sadly, it affects us all, yet again.

[jackwanders]

I'm sure as you already know, a partial increase of just 1degree of the worlds temperature can cause a offset in the worlds climate and possible trigger a ice-age. Do not shrug the aside the fact the change is small in theatrical terms, because in practice its huge.

The main cause of global warming (ie the unnatural heating of the earth) is humans. There are other factors contributing, but the main factor is man and it's pollution. I can't see why people are so afraid to take action over this or even admit to it?

And I seriously doubt human pollutants will start to fall 'over the next several decades', I think you fail to miss the amount of billions (or is it trillions now?) America makes off Oil. It's sad to see the most powerful nation on this earth shrug this issue aside, but its a fact at the moment. And sadly, it affects us all, yet again.

585518922[/snapback]

1) Sure, an increase in temperature can trigger an ice age. But if humans did nothing to the environment, the global temperature would still be rising, just not at the rate it is now.

2) Actually, you're wrong. Humans are 100% of the cause of 'the unnatural heating of the earth'. The real question is, how much of the warming is natural and how much is due to humans? Now you're making me repeat myself.

[CAH]

Aren't humans part of Nature ? :huh: