UK professors blame fictitious future weather on climate change – Do you stand out for that?
Guest essay by Eric Worrall
The TV series “Wheel of Time” clearly has magical powers, dark forces, and a warmer climate.
The wheel of time is set thousands of years from now, but it still bears the brunt of climate change today
December 22, 2021 7.41 am AEDT
Wheel of Time, the 14-book epic fantasy series that has now been adapted into an Amazon Prime TV series, is a medieval-style adventure set in the Third Age of the World of Wheels. Although not obvious in the plot, late author’s note suggests that Age One is actually present-day Earth, ending with a dramatic event (possibly even climate change). From these notes, we estimate the performance to take place about 18,000 years from the present day.
For climate scientists like us, this raises an interesting question: can today’s climate change still be experienced in the World of the Wheel, even after all these centuries?
About a quarter of the carbon dioxide emitted today will remain in the atmosphere, even 18,000 years from now. Based on biochemistry modeling, carbon dioxide levels can be as high as 1,100 parts per million (ppm) at that point. This is compared to today’s value of 415ppm. This very high value assumes that the Paris climate targets will be exceeded and that many natural carbon stocks will also be released into the atmosphere (e.g. melting permafrost).
But high carbon dioxide levels don’t necessarily mean a warmer climate. That’s because, over such a long period of time, slow changes in the planet’s orbit and tilt become more important. This is called the Milankovitch Cycle and each cycle lasts about 100,000 years. Given that we are currently at the cusp of such a cycle, the planet will naturally cool in the next 50,000 years and this is why scientists have ever worried about a new ice age.
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This dialogue is just as sad as the endless stories of Santa’s reindeer dying from global warming. How can someone be so obsessed with man-made climate change that they try to relate a fictional world 18,000 years in the future to their obsession?
I don’t have a problem with stories related to climate change, I really enjoy”The day after tomorrow“. It’s a great adventure story, even if the science behind the story is as ridiculous as the science of “Star Wars“.
“Hiero’s Journey“It’s a puzzling book set in the distant future that deals with warmer weather, but doesn’t go into it. The characters in “Hiero’s Journey” have more pressing issues than worrying about whether their distant ancestors should install more renewable energy, such as avoiding pressing mutants. shouted at them. Snowpiercer It’s great.
I never read”Wheel of time“, One of the series that already exists on my list perhaps. I can still try the book – reader comments welcome. But now I’m a bit nervous watching the TV adaptation.
Merry Christmas from WUWT & Australia
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