The Human Induced Climate Change Experiment
Global Warming Research, Development, and Educational Materials on
Anthropologic Climate Change and Pollution

by Brouse and Mukherjee

Overview
Global warming has caused irreversible damage to our environment, a reality widely recognized by scientists worldwide. Climate change poses a critical challenge, with increasingly volatile conditions threatening human habitation. The pressing question is whether we can adapt quickly enough. According to Mukherjee and Brouse, 'As energy is added to a system, fluctuations increase, resulting in more storms, droughts, wildfires, floods, and extreme weather events. Weather conditions will become more volatile due to human impact.'

Human-induced climate change is a dynamic element of an intricate and chaotic system, accelerating global warming in a complex and exponential manner. Over the period from 1992 to 2023 (update 2024), our climate model has presented evidence, proposed solutions, and engaged millions in understanding this escalating crisis. The data reveals that human activities are rapidly deteriorating our environment.

Our climate model employs chaos theory to assess human impacts. Global warming is driven by increased thermal energy within the climate system, a complex web of interconnected subsystems. Previous models often failed to account for "social-ecological systems," where human activity significantly alters climate dynamics.

The U.S. is among the least prepared nations, with the highest percentage of climate deniers. Political inaction exacerbates the problem, particularly as the Republican Party often dismisses climate change as a fabricated issue while advocating for increased fossil fuel production. Ironically, human industrial activities are a primary cause of climate change. Despite some progress under President Biden, the U.S. remains the world's largest producer of oil and gas, with both major political parties favoring emergency disaster funding over proactive climate prevention measures. Both Republicans and Democrats have reached bipartisan agreements allowing the government to engage in virtually unlimited spending on climate disaster relief, rather than addressing the root causes of these disasters. This legislative approach prioritizes emergency funding to repair damage after climate-related events, such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, rather than focusing on the long-term solutions necessary to mitigate climate change, like reducing greenhouse gas emissions or transitioning away from fossil fuels.

In 2023, the U.S. experienced 28 major weather and climate-related disasters, each costing over a billion dollars. These events included hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms, and flooding, some causing economic damages of hundreds of billions of dollars. Compounding these challenges, in June 2024, the Supreme Court significantly curtailed the Environmental Protection Agency's authority, limiting its ability to regulate emissions and enforce environmental standards -- a severe blow to decades of progress. As of the first week of August 2024, the U.S. had experienced 19 weather and climate events with losses exceeding $1 billion. These included 15 severe storm events, 1 tropical cyclone, 1 wildfire, and 2 winter storm events. According to NOAA, "Overall, these events resulted in the deaths of 149 people and had significant economic effects on the areas impacted." Since then, several more extreme weather events have occurred, with Hurricane Helene on September 26-27 emerging as one of the most devastating in history. Helene caused over 200 fatalities and resulted in an estimated $126 billion in direct damages. Beyond its immediate destruction, Helene has also had far-reaching ripple effects on supply chains. For instance, 60% of the U.S. IV fluid supply has been disrupted, posing a significant challenge to the healthcare industry. Even more alarming is the impact on the tech sector: 99% of the pure quartz used in semiconductor manufacturing has been affected, which could lead to long-term consequences for global electronics production. This series of billion-dollar events highlights the exponential accelerating pace of climate-related disasters. Hurricane Helene was soon followed by another powerful storm -- Hurricane Milton. Milton is projected to cause over $100 billion in insurance claims, further complicating the already difficult insurance market for Florida homeowners. Additionally, the public and government are expected to shoulder an extra $50 billion in costs, adding to the financial strain on both taxpayers and the state. Much of Milton's damage came from its powerful winds and an unprecedented number of tornadoes. The eastern side of Florida was hardest hit, with more than 30 tornadoes causing widespread destruction and resulting in the highest number of fatalities and potential financial losses.

The government's actions reveal a troubling mix of ignorance and indifference, turning what were once "worst-case" climate predictions into our current "best-case" scenarios. Updated climate models, now incorporating social-ecological factors, project that global temperatures could rise by as much as 9°C within this century -- a drastic increase compared to previous estimates of a 4°C rise over the next millennium. Such extreme warming could push the planet toward a critical "wet-bulb" temperature threshold, where heat and humidity exceed the human body's capacity to cool itself, posing severe and potentially lethal health risks. The need for decisive and immediate action has never been more urgent as climate change continues to spiral beyond control.

Unfortunately, that's the reality. The root of the problem lies with us -- the people. Government officials simply reflect our choices. Until consumer demands become more socially responsible, we'll continue to get exactly what we want -- and deserve. Each person bears the responsibility to minimize pollution, discontinue the use of fossil fuels, reduce consumption, and foster a culture of love and care. Only then can we drive the collective action needed to address the climate crisis and build a sustainable future.

Current Status: Climate Breakdown
Climate breakdown, the most alarming phase of climate change, occurs when feedback loops are triggered and critical tipping points are crossed, leading to irreversible environmental damage. This cascade effect accelerates the extinction of plant species, the collapse of carbon sinks, and an exponential rise in global temperatures. The consequences are dire, threatening the availability of essential resources like food, fresh water, and breathable air -- ultimately putting human survival at risk.

In October 2023, the European Space Agency's Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that September's average global temperature soared to 16.38°C, breaking the previous record set in 2020 by 0.5°C. Copernicus Director Carlo Buontempo described these findings as "mind-blowing," highlighting the severe impacts on ecosystems and human life, including the destruction of infrastructure, agriculture, and critical natural assets. "What we are observing are not just new extremes but a sustained pattern of record-breaking conditions, clearly demonstrating the worsening climate crisis," Buontempo stated.

By January 2024, the Earth had already experienced an alarming annual average temperature increase of over 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This rise continued into February, with temperatures soaring to 1.77°C above pre-industrial averages -- centuries ahead of previous projections. The urgency to mitigate climate change has never been more evident.

In May 2024, a significant update revealed through tree ring analysis that the average temperature in 2023 had increased by 2.07°C, further emphasizing the rapid and dangerous acceleration of climate change and its profound impacts on ecosystems worldwide.

A report by the USDA and the U.S. Forest Service found that the risk of wildfires has been drastically underestimated. The updated model concluded that wildfires pose a high risk to one-third of all U.S. residents and buildings. "We're more accurately reflecting climate changes that we've seen in the last few years," said Kelly Pohl, associate director at the nonprofit Headwaters Economics, which released the findings with the Forest Service.

On June 6, 2024, NOAA and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography announced that carbon dioxide levels are now accumulating in the atmosphere at an unprecedented rate. "Over the past year, we've seen record-breaking heat, ocean temperatures, and a relentless onslaught of extreme weather events, from heatwaves to wildfires," stated NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. "Now, atmospheric CO2 levels are climbing faster than at any point in human history. These are clear warnings of the catastrophic impact of carbon pollution, and immediate, drastic cuts to fossil fuel use are essential."

In July 2024, the Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed that Earth had experienced its hottest day ever recorded, breaking the record set just a year earlier in July 2023. 'The most striking aspect is the persistent and increasing gap between the temperatures since July 2023 and all prior years,' noted Copernicus scientists. This pattern indicates that the rapid acceleration of climate change is no longer an anomaly but has become the new, dangerous norm. The need for immediate global action to curb emissions and protect future generations is more urgent than ever.

A September 2024 report published in the journal Science concluded that a 9-day seismic event in September 2023 was triggered by the collapse of a Greenland glacier and mountain, resulting in a 200-meter tsunami. The initial shockwaves traveled from the Arctic to Antarctica within an hour. Trapped in a fjord, the tsunami generated recurring 90-second seismic events as the wave repeatedly bounced between the fjord's walls.

Tipped Tipping Points, Feedback Loops, and the Domino Effect
Tipping points are Critical Milestones that directly impact the rate of acceleration in climate change by multiplying the number and intensity of feedback loops. Identifying and understanding these tipping points is crucial for climate science and policymaking. Crossing multiple tipping points has led to the domino effect, resulting in a much more rapid and severe climate change than currently projected.

Push a glass toward the edge of a table and eventually it will fall off on its own. No matter how slowly or meticulously you push... no matter how you weight or fill the glass, it will reach a tipping point and fall off before being pushed completely off the table. No matter whether you believe the glass is half-empty or half-full, when the tipping point is reached it will plummet out-of-control to its end. This is science not fate, faith, nor belief. Human induced climate change has resulted in environmental tipping points being breached.

Tipping points, when crossed, trigger self-sustaining feedback loops that are no longer dependent on human activity. Similar to when a domino topples over hitting two more dominoes that in turn fall hitting more dominoes. Thus, the name The Domino Effect. It can also be visualized as The Snowball Effect. A tipping point is like a snowball rolling down a hill growing in mass and velocity (momentum). When a tipping point is crossed, it results in cumulative and reinforced global warming.

9 Climate Change Tipping Points Crossed
At least nine tipping points have been crossed. The first dominoes have fallen and will continue to knock down more tiles with each escalating step. The crossing of these nine climate tipping points represents a critical threshold in the Earth’s climate system, with potentially irreversible consequences for global ecosystems and human societies:

1. Greenland Ice Sheet Collapse: The melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet has accelerated in recent years, leading to increased rates of ice loss and sea level rise. As glaciers retreat and ice shelves collapse, vast quantities of freshwater enter the ocean, disrupting marine ecosystems and contributing to global sea level rise.
2. West Antarctic Ice Sheet Collapse: Similar to Greenland, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is experiencing rapid melting and destabilization. The collapse of this ice sheet has the potential to raise sea levels by several meters, inundating coastal areas and triggering widespread impacts on infrastructure, agriculture, and human populations.
3. Labrador-Irminger Seas/SPG Convection Collapse: The collapse of convection in the Labrador-Irminger Seas, part of the North Atlantic Ocean, could disrupt the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). This circulation pattern plays a crucial role in regulating global climate and ocean circulation, influencing weather patterns and heat distribution worldwide.
4. East Antarctic Subglacial Basins Collapse: The East Antarctic Ice Sheet contains vast quantities of ice, much of which is grounded below sea level. The collapse of subglacial basins in East Antarctica could lead to rapid ice loss and contribute to sea level rise, with potentially far-reaching consequences for coastal regions and global climate stability.
5. Arctic Winter Sea Ice Collapse: Arctic sea ice has been declining rapidly in extent and thickness due to rising temperatures. The loss of winter sea ice in the Arctic not only accelerates regional warming but also affects global weather patterns, ocean circulation, and biodiversity in the Arctic ecosystem.
6. East Antarctic Ice Sheet Collapse: While traditionally considered more stable than its western counterpart, the East Antarctic Ice Sheet is also vulnerable to collapse under continued warming. The disintegration of ice shelves and glaciers in East Antarctica could significantly contribute to sea level rise and alter ocean circulation patterns.
7. Amazon Rainforest Dieback: Deforestation, drought, and climate change threaten the resilience of the Amazon Rainforest, the world’s largest tropical rainforest. The dieback of the Amazon could result in decreased rainfall, increased carbon emissions, and loss of biodiversity, impacting regional and global climate systems.
8. Boreal Permafrost Collapse: Permafrost in the northern regions of the globe contains vast stores of carbon in the form of frozen organic matter. As permafrost thaws due to rising temperatures, it releases greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide, further exacerbating climate change and creating a feedback loop of increased warming.
9. Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Collapse: The collapse of the AMOC, driven by changes in ocean temperature and salinity, could have profound consequences for global climate stability. Disruption of this circulation pattern could lead to abrupt shifts in weather patterns, including changes in temperature, precipitation, and ocean currents, with far-reaching impacts on ecosystems and human societies.