January to March 2024
Four articles, featuring "State of the Global Climate 2023."
Can we engineer our way out of the climate crisis?
Summary
This article describes the development of carbon capture and air capture as well as emerging and controversial methods of capture, etc. Many of these methods have not been adequately tested and are not regulated. The article describes the controversy and voices both sides of the story.
Key Points
Although there have been many costly initiatives related to carbon capture and other methods of mitigation, these are so far unproven and expensive.
Source
New York Times.
Relevance to Digital Preservation
Carbon capture and other geoengineering might prove to be important mitigation technologies which institutions can use to offset emissions, but it is important to understand their potential consequences before embracing them.
Full citation
Gelles, D. ( March, 2024). Can we engineer our way out of the climate crisis? New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/31/climate/climate-change-carbon-capture-ccs.html
The need for multi-century projections of sea level rise
Summary
Since sea-level rise is predicted to continue for many centuries, there is a societal need for sea-level rise projections beyond 2100. The current work by Turner et al., Kopp et al., and Palmer et al. has been important in this area. Still, this work must continue for decision-makers to make long-term decisions on new settlements, nuclear power installations, transport infrastructure, re-locating coastal communities (libraries and archives), etc.
Key Points
Climate model projections for sea-level rise have focused mainly on the period up to 2100, partly because running simulations beyond this time frame is computationally expensive.
The range of sea level rise information required by coastal planners and decision‐makers is broad and highly context‐specific.
Source
Earth’s Future is a peer-reviewed journal.
Relevance to Digital Preservation
This short article explains to decision-makers that the effects of sea-level rise will continue for centuries, making it an imperative consideration when planning for the long term.
Full citation
Palmer, M. D., & Weeks, J. H. (2024). The need for multi-century projections of sea level rise. Earth's Future, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EF004403
Toward a US framework for continuity of satellite observations of Earth's climate and for supporting societal resilience
Summary
The U.S. spends $1.6 billion yearly on weather satellites but lacks a comprehensive plan to manage and prioritize space-based Earth observations. The Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) recommends creating a coordination framework to address this issue. This framework should include methods to:
Identify and prioritize the satellite observations needed for U.S. science and services.
Consider the rapidly changing options and technologies for space-based Earth observation, which offer more opportunities and lower costs.
Ensure proper data management to support research and public services.
Key Points
There has been a significant increase in the number of billion-dollar disasters affecting the U.S., with the frequency of such events roughly quadrupling from the 1980s to the 2010s.
Earth observations provide reliable and useful information for climate finance, building sustainable infrastructure, measuring and tracking carbon, and managing resources wisely.
Source
Earth’s Future is a peer-reviewed journal.
Relevance to Digital Preservation
A more structured approach to climate observation and prediction offers digital preservationists time to plan and react to major disasters, enhancing institutional resilience.
Full citation
KISS Continuity Study Team. (2024). Toward a US framework for continuity of satellite observations of Earth's climate and for supporting societal resilience. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EF003757
State of the Global Climate 2023
Summary
This is an annual report from the WMO, documenting climate change-related events and conditions throughout the world. 2023 marked another record-breaking year, with increased land and ocean temperatures, greenhouse gases, ocean acidification, food insecurity, and population displacement. The report also describes specific weather events that occurred as well as current climate financing and renewable energy endeavours. Access to a variety of datasets is made available at the close of the report.
Key Points
2023 was the warmest year on record with a global average temperature of 1.45 +/- 0.12 C above the 1850-1900 average, surpassing previous warmest years by a significant margin.
Concentrations of greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide reached record-high observed levels in 2023, significantly above pre-industrial averages.
Source
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a U.N. agency comprising 193 countries and territories, responsible for promoting international cooperation and providing various documents on atmospheric science, climatology, hydrology, and geophysics.
Relevance to Digital Preservation
This is useful as a general reference to climate events and change geographically.
Full citation
World Meteorological Organization (WMO). (2024). State of the Global Climate 2023 (No. WMO-No. 1347; p. 53). World Meteorological Organization (WMO). https://library.wmo.int/idurl/4/68835