Posted on Oct 15, 2014
The ways global climate change threats may affect servicemembers
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Climate change is now being looked at as a national security threat. Rising global temperatures, increasing sea levels and intensifying weather activities will challenge global stability, says Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. The changes could even lead to food and water shortages, disease and clashes over refugees and resources.
On Monday, Hagel unveiled a “Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap” to several defense ministers at an international meeting in Peru. He stressed leaders inside and outside the military need to set aside the intense political debate over the issue. Hagel says our armed forces have to prepare for all possible threats to keep our country secure. This includes our military bracing for a global warming crisis that will cause sea levels to rise 12 to 18 inches over the next 20 to 50 years.
Flooding and erosion will threaten military installations’ infrastructure and training areas, including port facilities such as San Diego, Hawaii and Norfolk, Virginia. The number of humanitarian assistance missions will increase. Climate changes can create new health risks by expanding infectious disease zones and boosting health service demands. Bases in the West will have to consider new water management programs to handle droughts, as dust can ruin military equipment and increase equipment costs.
Hagel outlined a list of potential changes for the Defense Department, including how all branches will be affected:
Marine Corps: Rising sea levels could make it harder to mount amphibious landings.
Air Force: Changing weather patterns could make it more difficult to fly for investigation and surveillance missions.
Navy: New ship technology might be needed to maneuver in the Arctic icy waters, in facing new zones of competition as new fossil fuel and mineral deposits become accessible.
Army: Soldiers may need to help manage instability caused by flooding in densely populated coastal areas, where mass-migration creates chaos and a breeding ground for extremist groups.
National Guard: More severe weather, such as hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires, will cause serious damage that will require more support from members.
The Pentagon is assessing the vulnerability of more than 7,000 bases and installations around the world. As the assessment winds down, leaders are reviewing all budget plans, war game scenarios and off-the-shelf operational contingency plans to determine if revisions are needed in light of projected impact of global warming.
Can key decision-makers put aside their political differences and focus on preparing for climate changes? Given what Hagel has outlined, how will preparing for global warming threats affect you and your service?
On Monday, Hagel unveiled a “Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap” to several defense ministers at an international meeting in Peru. He stressed leaders inside and outside the military need to set aside the intense political debate over the issue. Hagel says our armed forces have to prepare for all possible threats to keep our country secure. This includes our military bracing for a global warming crisis that will cause sea levels to rise 12 to 18 inches over the next 20 to 50 years.
Flooding and erosion will threaten military installations’ infrastructure and training areas, including port facilities such as San Diego, Hawaii and Norfolk, Virginia. The number of humanitarian assistance missions will increase. Climate changes can create new health risks by expanding infectious disease zones and boosting health service demands. Bases in the West will have to consider new water management programs to handle droughts, as dust can ruin military equipment and increase equipment costs.
Hagel outlined a list of potential changes for the Defense Department, including how all branches will be affected:
Marine Corps: Rising sea levels could make it harder to mount amphibious landings.
Air Force: Changing weather patterns could make it more difficult to fly for investigation and surveillance missions.
Navy: New ship technology might be needed to maneuver in the Arctic icy waters, in facing new zones of competition as new fossil fuel and mineral deposits become accessible.
Army: Soldiers may need to help manage instability caused by flooding in densely populated coastal areas, where mass-migration creates chaos and a breeding ground for extremist groups.
National Guard: More severe weather, such as hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires, will cause serious damage that will require more support from members.
The Pentagon is assessing the vulnerability of more than 7,000 bases and installations around the world. As the assessment winds down, leaders are reviewing all budget plans, war game scenarios and off-the-shelf operational contingency plans to determine if revisions are needed in light of projected impact of global warming.
Can key decision-makers put aside their political differences and focus on preparing for climate changes? Given what Hagel has outlined, how will preparing for global warming threats affect you and your service?
Climate Change
Command Post
Environment
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 48
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What? Global warming? Just another ploy for the government to control the masses. Why not have a once a month blackout? wait, that happened before and the population increased.
It does not change anything in my life. Personally, I do not think there is enough evidence to support it being a national security threat.
We do need to take care of our planet. The evidence being presented is to controversial and has too many holes in some of the theories. Additionally, there have been claims made that what evidence there is has been fabricated.
If it is such a threat, why aren't some of the largest cities in the world that are located next to oceans making preparations to move to dryer ground when the oceans rise? The claim, last I heard was that the ocean levels will rise enough to swallow some of the worlds largest population centers?
I am not convinced there is a threat, but the government propaganda machine will have the masses so terrified they will be willing to allow the powers that be do as they will, as long as the masses feel it is saving their selves.
Just my uneducated, honest opinion.
It does not change anything in my life. Personally, I do not think there is enough evidence to support it being a national security threat.
We do need to take care of our planet. The evidence being presented is to controversial and has too many holes in some of the theories. Additionally, there have been claims made that what evidence there is has been fabricated.
If it is such a threat, why aren't some of the largest cities in the world that are located next to oceans making preparations to move to dryer ground when the oceans rise? The claim, last I heard was that the ocean levels will rise enough to swallow some of the worlds largest population centers?
I am not convinced there is a threat, but the government propaganda machine will have the masses so terrified they will be willing to allow the powers that be do as they will, as long as the masses feel it is saving their selves.
Just my uneducated, honest opinion.
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We have almost zero ability to do anything about this. This reactionary BS will cost lots of money and yield little to no discernible results.
The fact is, the SUN is the primary driver of climate - good luck controlling that.
Another fun fact is, the "doom and gloomers" started their frantic efforts back in the early 70s. Then they claimed that Earth was in for another ice age.
Being responsible stewards of our resources and land is one thing - but thinking we could out-do the power of the sun? Really?
Another fun fact is, that as the sun ages it's getting hotter and eventually it will expand in size.
If every country on Earth cooperated and did what is proposed, we would certainly have a cleaner environmental moment and healthier ecosystems.
But that's about as far as human efforts can and will go.
Another fun fact is, all the climate predictions are based on COMPUTER simulations, not actual science. The predictions are only as good as the data and programing is. The fact remains, they cannot know all those variables and they can never create a computer program that will accurately predict climate.
The final fun fact is, weather and climate changes in traceable ways - we have next to no control over this.
Let's put thought and resources into things we can change instead of chasing the latest scare-monger fad pushed on us by questionable science.
The fact is, the SUN is the primary driver of climate - good luck controlling that.
Another fun fact is, the "doom and gloomers" started their frantic efforts back in the early 70s. Then they claimed that Earth was in for another ice age.
Being responsible stewards of our resources and land is one thing - but thinking we could out-do the power of the sun? Really?
Another fun fact is, that as the sun ages it's getting hotter and eventually it will expand in size.
If every country on Earth cooperated and did what is proposed, we would certainly have a cleaner environmental moment and healthier ecosystems.
But that's about as far as human efforts can and will go.
Another fun fact is, all the climate predictions are based on COMPUTER simulations, not actual science. The predictions are only as good as the data and programing is. The fact remains, they cannot know all those variables and they can never create a computer program that will accurately predict climate.
The final fun fact is, weather and climate changes in traceable ways - we have next to no control over this.
Let's put thought and resources into things we can change instead of chasing the latest scare-monger fad pushed on us by questionable science.
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MAJ Derrick J.
Jacob Hollander - you have been suckered by propaganda, not science. You've provided zero counter, just repeated rhetoric that has no basis in facts.
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SSgt (Join to see)
You are no one in this discussion. You are a jackass and if you want to talk about this, we can do that. Do not pull rank with me because you have none. Trust me here.
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It's hard to respond to this thread. NASA has released data for several years showing that there has been no global warming for over 20 years, the polar ice cap that was supposed to have been gone last summer was actually 24% larger. Scientists have also noticed global climate change on 2 of our other planets, Mars being one. The large earthquake in South America a few years ago shifted the Earth by 6 inches at the poles, which would equate to a larger shift at the equator. The magnetic field around the Earth is currently in flux and is weakening a bit. Add all of this up, and I don't know what it all means, but there is far more going on than just humans mucking things up.
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SSgt Everett Jones
I have seen that, and the data is inconsistent with previous data. Also, they "warmest year on record" was already debunked, July was the warmest month on record, but not the year. It also does not reflect the fact that in the 1970's Congress was presented with the official report that stated that temperatures had been on a decline for 50 years, which created a fear of a new ice age. Instead, the chart in that data shows warming since 1909. All of the warming trend data comes from surface data, satellite data (which is set to be more accurate) does not confirm this, but instead shows no warming for about 20 years. Surface temperature readings are almost always taken from built up areas, such as cities and airports, which are also known as heat islands. The readings from the satellites do not allow for that very localized variance. Where I live is a perfect example of this, at my house which is outside of town, the temperature is always about 5 degrees cooler than in town. I could provide links to all of this, but I don't know which ones you would trust enough to believe, so I'll leave it up to you. One last thing I would like to point out, even on that graph provided in the link, the temperature is up less than .7 degrees celsius for a 100 year span.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Jacob has no credilibility and his accusations and disrespect for officers and being a civilian and doing that, will be addressed. MAJ Derrick J. I used to have a cousin, well two, that were pilots. LTC Kline and brother Major Russell Kline who was a fighter pilot and Distinguished Flying Cross and 13 Air Medals. Take care here, because I have ignored Jacob, who is political and you are right, he is an ass.
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There is no proof that we are having any kind of significant affect on "climate change". In recent years there have been record freezing temperatures in various places. The fact that our government is funding this research is a joke in itself. They have used scare tactics to increase support in continued funding in the research efforts and only calling this "global warming" when it's convenient, changing it to "climate change" when the record freezing temperatures don't support the idea of global warming. I say that what is happening is what has been happening naturally since the Earth's creation, natural warming and freezing phases. We have bigger problems to deal with; and this hoax is certainly not one. If you don't believe this is a scam, read the independent studies that show evidence of this, not some government-funded studies that have already had evidence of data tampering. In the end this is mainly about the $$$.
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PO2 David Hagwood
I didn't deny the climate changes, I deny the reasons such alarm is caused on this subject is legitimate. The climate has always changed significantly before recorded history. Regardless of the scientific evidence behind this right now, this is a job for the public sector, not our government. There will always be a special interest for such studies and can be funded privately. We have bigger issue to deal with. We put more focus on this than border security, which is pathetic.
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SSgt (Join to see)
SSG Mustain has no grip on the subject but repeats uneducated talking points. He uses half-truths that become science fact and it is not. Does the climate change? Yes!!! But the cause is still a point of debate. <--35 years of experience in weather and observing climate,
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Interesting, how's that snow/ice mainland U.S. ? Heard you had a pretty cold year. In Hawaii, they have been saying that another island will rise above sea level in the next couple decades, but how can this be true if the sea levels are rising? Alaska had a late start to winter, is that what we're calling global warming? Things don't add up in my opinon.
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MAJ (Join to see)
But SGT Kristin Wiley, that's the inherent beauty of "climate change"! They don't have to offer you a solid, evidence-based explanation, because, well... "climate change"!
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hahahahaha there is no such thing as of man made global warming...and if there was....there is nothing our lil bodies on this earth could do anything about
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My answer is, follow the money, in 1975 they said the next ice age was coming, it did not. Now they were pushing Global Warming , but that turned out to be bogus, so they changed it to Climate Change. We can be good stewards of the Earth. One minute the Ozone layer is depleting, the next minute it is not...Al Gore has made billions making us fear climate change that we have absolutely no control over.
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First, you have to believe in global climate changes are occurring abnormally. I do not. I believe the climate changes are occurring as they have over several centuries. So, I cannot answer this question.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Robert you know a lot for not knowing much climate. Of course climate changes but mankind has no control a lot of things that DO affect climate.
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Maybe we will actually be allowed to unblouse and roll up our sleeves in the Army...? A man can dream i guess.
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I want off this planet!!
I swear, the movie Idiocracy is slowly becoming a documentary.
I swear, the movie Idiocracy is slowly becoming a documentary.
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Sgt Edward Strobel
I just want out of this country, Look at the next political groups lining up to take office, America is screaming her death knell when we elect politicians on what they say they will or will not do..instead of becoming an informed nation and deciding on a persons history, and activities in their past... that and most voters Vote on a political line instead of for the right person to take office," well I am a democrat so I vote Democrat" is one of the most idiotic statements I have ever heard!!!! Or voting on what is reported on the main stain news, nothing of importance is ever discussed in the debates anymore... other than politically correct issues...
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