Brown clouds over Asia pose new threat to planet: UN

[Iscariot]

WINNIPEG (CBC) - A brown haze of soot, particles and chemicals that hangs over parts of Asia is darkening cities, melting glaciers in the Himalayas and making weather systems more extreme, the United Nations said Thursday.

Scientists who have studied the thick brown clouds, which they estimate to be more than three kilometres thick, said the haze stretches from the Arabian Peninsula to China and the Western Pacific Ocean. It is officially known as atmospheric brown clouds.

The scientists, who come from China, India, Europe and the U.S., said in a new report commissioned by the UN Environment Program that the brown clouds are aggravating the impact of climate change caused by greenhouse gases in some regions.

They said they are issuing the warning now about the brown haze because it is a "serious and significant" environmental challenge facing the planet that poses a threat to human health and food production.

CBC

 

[iJohnHenry]

Yet there are those that will steadfastly maintain that we mere mortals cannot have such an impact on a Global scale.

I think I am checking-out at just about the right time.

 

[Abstract]

Nice photo of Hong Kong.

People should have more children so that they can inherit this.

 

[GSMiller]

It could be worse, had all of the United States' heavily-polluting industries not moved there, that cloud would be over North America!

 

[Henri Gaudier]

It could be worse, had all of the United States' heavily-polluting industries not moved there, that cloud would be over North America!

Don't worry .. it'll get you in the end. That or dirty ... sneaky .... anti-amerikan environmentalism. Hahhhahhaaaahhhhhaah!!!!

 

[thomahawk]

wow, greedy people these days, we should focus on saving our earth now, then be greedy afterwards.

 

[Compile 'em all]

wow, greedy people these days, we should focus on saving our earth now, then be greedy afterwards.

meh, there are plenty of planets out there. We can just do whatever we want here and then when earth starts to suck we move on to another one

 

[Abstract]

Don't worry, the cooling effect of this cloud will combat global warming. If it all evens out for the next 60 years or so, I may not have to worry, since I'll be dead by the time it destroys all life on the planet. :thumbs up:

 

[iJohnHenry]

Australia is a good place to be.

Remember On The Beach??

 

[joepunk]

I've been saying to my family and friends that we are screwed and there is no chance of reversing/fixing the environment. We can only hope to slow the process.

 

[Abstract]

I've been saying to my family and friends that we are screwed.....

You must be an awesome guy to have at parties.