Climate Science
Why is Climate Change Happening?
In the past, global temperatures have fluctuated naturally; because of human activities. The climate is currently changing significantly, and temperatures are shifting on an unprecedented scale. Greenhouse gases at a moderate level promote life, but too many greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and ozone are adversely impacting life on earth.
Based on NASA’s Global Climate Change Vital Signs website, the amount of carbon dioxide measurement in the atmosphere is 417 ppm as of October 2021, which is 49% higher than levels seen in the last 20,000 years. This massive increase in carbon dioxide due to industrialization has caused heat waves, hurricanes, intense rainstorms with flooding, and megadroughts. These events, in turn, have caused sea-level rise from melting glaciers, polar ice caps, food insecurity, inequality, and political instability.
Bill Gates in his most recent book has suggested, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster?
He focused on suggesting how 51 gigatons of greenhouse gases that are added to the atmosphere annually must be reduced to zero by 2050. He says the world has never done anything quite this big. He states:
To avoid a climate disaster, we have to get to zero greenhouse gas emissions.
We need to deploy the tools we already have, like solar and wind, faster and smarter.
And we need to create and roll out breakthrough technologies that can take us the rest of the way.
Even the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that catastrophic impacts of climate change will come sooner than expected. Every fraction in temperature rise causes cascading feedback loops that worsen on each cycle. A half-degree more of warming will mean dramatic sea-level rise, habitat loss, extreme heat, drought, climate refugees, and significantly more poverty.
IPCC reviewer Peter Carter says the following:
Getting to zero carbon emissions is a must. Climate change is an existential threat. Everything is getting worse faster. We are now at 1.2°C global temperature increases. When we reach 1.5°C it will be disastrous, we will begin to lose food. Then, if it goes to 2°C, it will be catastrophic. Greenhouse gases are increasing very fast; atmospheric CO2 is at the highest in 3 million years. The changes now are 100 to 200 times faster than natural changes.
Peter Carter – IPCC Reviewer
MBSI Initiative
MBSI will take an “all hands-on deck” approach. We will look for new, innovative ideas to mitigate climate change and be part of the ideas, policy development, and solutions that are necessary for creating a sustainable climate. We will do this through research focused on solving climate-specific problems with cross-discipline collaboration using scientific computing tools effectively. Climate science will be our primary focus of research because the future of all life depends on solutions to this threat.
At the start of Climate research
MBSI anticipates 100 climate researchers on campus with more collaborating at partner institutions to build long-term relationships. “Focusing on areas where no one really has focused on yet. We need to research how to model earth’s climate on a macroscopic and microscopic scale. This research will help predict future places to live and how climate change initiatives will impact the climate like planting trees.
Long Term Research Agenda
Our planet faces unprecedented challenges—climate change, food insecurity, aging populations, and the need for ethical AI development. Traditional approaches have yielded progress, but we need bolder solutions to ensure a sustainable and equitable future. The Mays Bennett Science Institute will tackle these challenges head-on, focusing on:
Develop carbon capture and storage technologies to remove greenhouse gasses.
Research renewable energy sources beyond solar and wind, like fusion power.
Engineer climate-resilient infrastructure and agricultural practices.
Implement advanced weather forecasting and disaster mitigation strategies.
Leverage AI for climate modeling and predicting long-term environmental trends
A Call to Action for Climate Stability
MBSI wants to establish a society that can protect the environment for our generations. Our research initiatives help in building a better place and a future to live with a greener atmosphere. Our research develops sustainable practices that reduce deforestation, improve soil health, and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
