Global warming over the coming century could mean a return of temperatures last seen in the age of the dinosaur and lead to the extinction of up to half of all species, a scientist said on Thursday. Not only will carbon dioxide levels be at the highest levels for 24 million years, but global average temperatures will be higher than for up to 10 million years, said Chris Thomas of the University of York.Between 10 and 99 percent of species will be faced with atmospheric conditions that last existed before they evolved, and as a result from 10-50 percent of them could disappear."We may very well already be on the breaking edge of a wave of mass extinctions," Thomas told the annual meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.Scientists predict average global temperatures will rise by between two and six degrees centigrade by 2100, mainly as a result of the heat-trapping carbon dioxide being pumped into the air from burning fossil fuels for transport and power."If the most extreme warming predicted takes place we will be going back to global temperatures not seen since the age of the dinosaur," Thomas said."We are starting to put these things into a historical perspective.

These are conditions not seen for millions of years, so none of the species will have been subjected to them before," he added.Thomas said scientific observations had already found that -- as predicted by the climate models -- 80 percent of species had already begun moving their traditional territorial ranges in response to the changing climatic conditions."That is an amazingly high correlation. It is a clear signature of climate change," he said.Not only had the animals, birds and insects started to react, but there was evidence vegetation was also on the move.For example, climate-triggered fungal pathogen outbreaks had already led to the extinction of more than one percent of the planet's amphibian species, Thomas said.

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Nonsense! I have pages upon pages on findings contrary to this. Don't buy into the hype: global warming does not exist! At least, that is, global warming from human actions. If any does occur, its natural. I can back it up for those who don't agree...

I think the planet is getting colder. Hey ever heard of global diming?

I think part of blobal warming is a human couse. You think of how large the planet really is, it wouldn't be effected by polutions and all but it is. Stuff doesn't just float into space, it does go into the atmosphere.

Global dimming is cooling us down, but because of other processes such as Global warming (regardless of whether it's naturally occuring or not), the net change is an increase in temperature.

Many fear that as the effects of global dimming are beginning to decrease, global temperatures will increase at an exponential rate.

Seems like evolution is taking it's course again......well once earths poles start to shift everything is going to be the opposit , the hottest parts of world will be the coldest parts of the world .But during the shift get ready for the melting of the ice caps of the north and the south pole, raising the water covering most of the united states ,and some other effects take place.....but people just relax the earth is just going through another change just like the last time.If we're smart we could servive right?

The Summers are becoming hottest and Winters coldest,this processe is a natural process but human are making it faster.

In the area I live in the weather over the past years is getting warmer. We have more 90 degrees or over in the summer. At 3 or 4 in the morning it is still in the mid 80's. Last year I was cutting grass in November! Our spring and fall with the nice 60 and 70 degrees only last about two weeks each now. Our winters are mild. Most days in the 40's. Thirty years ago the winters were cold enough to get snow and I remember even in the summer the evenings would cool down. The weather has definitely warmed up around here.

I'm glad there are others out there who don't think this global warming thing is something we can all stop by recycling our rubbish!
The climate is changing all the time all over the world.
I was reading about the ice sheet covering Greenland; the 'experts' are saying that it is melting, their evidence is arial photographs taken in the 1940's and comparing them with current pictures. They don't have any pictures from 10,000 years ago to compare them to! They have failed to mention that Greenland only gets about 10 inches of snow each year over the majority of the island (Where does all that ice come from?). The ice sheet has been melting ever since Greenland moved during the last Crust Displacement.
Global Warming is nonsense... Dynamic Climate Change is what it is.

Pink and Monk, thank Christ there are others that see the light.
Global Warming is hype created to manipulate governments and voters all over the world.
Like has been pointed out: nobody knows why the climate is changing. It just is and mankind will survive it, since we aren't 100 foot reptiles with brains the size of peanuts.
As I have said before, and to quote Douglas Adams: "Don't panic."

I see on my breathing inhaler that the propellant used may harm the Ozone layer.

So what now , kill all the people with breathing problems? Dumb Hippies!

To be honest i don't really see how 2 degrees or even 6 degree increases would affect us, sure hotter weather polar ice caps but in reality if our temp raises it won't cause us problems as take England for example if our temp rose 2 or 6 degrees it still wouldn't be as hot as spain so is it a problem?

Yes, but mainly hyped by the media as many things are, take aspartame for example that has been hugely hyped, the original reports state few cases lead, but whent he press get ahold it's life or death if we have it or not.

And one thing by the time there saying the caps will have melted and the temperatures will have rose it will be like 50 years or more from now, even at the most 20 years think in terms of technology how far we would of come by then, take since 2000 we've made tons of major break throughs, the 90s saw more, and so on. So if there is such a huge problem as they say there is i'm sure in the next ten plus years at a minimun or even say 100 years we will have some sought of counter messure.

But for me, as others have already posted it's all hype, there maybe some truth but in the actual affects that will happen are no real worry, as sure the Dinos and such couldn't do out about it, but did they have a calculator, or even a pencil nope, we on the other hand have technology so if this is what led to the dinos dying out, i think we stand a better chance.

Sugardady, The earth's pols switching will not affect climate like you think. The reason why the earth is hotter during lets say july in the north and cold in the south is because of the earth's tilt and which side of the sun we are currently traversing.. a polar switch would not tilt the earth in any direction. the poles have to to with the inside of the eart..

-Peace

Skep

Warning: My spell check isn't working!!

The Climactic changes we are witnesing in recent history has many facits. Yes humans are a part of it. But also the magnetic reversal of the poles is comming soon. And yes, it does have some consequences. Also does anyone remember the huge planetary alignment of May 5 2000? The Great Conjunction happens every 6,000 years if I remember correctly..... Does any one remember what the Earth's axis was before that happened??? It was about 32*, now its 23*. And do you not think that this would not have some sort of ramifications??? The great conjunction has come and gone many times over as long as our solar system has been in existance. It has been know to aid in climactic changes. The polar ice caps ARE melting. As stated before by others, this has happened MANY times. It is all a part of how the planet works. But when the ice caps melt.... what do you think happens to the ocean water temps??? Just think of all that cold water.... How do you think that it will affect the Gulf Stream?? The Gulf Stream has MANY different jobs. One job is regulating the climates of all atlantic land masses..... Just think of what may happen if that water turned cold..... Can anyone say ICE AGE??? SO, yes tropical temps may come, but arctic temps may be immediatly following...... It all depends on what scientist you listen to, every one has different veiw on this topic... No one is truly certain.

Where did you hear that?