Critical situation time scale in years from now - Our Planet and the Environment Forum

New User Joined: Dec 17, 2004 Posts: 1

• end of new physics ca. 30 (ca. year 2030)

• giant tsunami from volcanic eruption at Canary islands ca. 10-200

• ozone shield reduction ca. 100

• rising ocean levels due to greenhouse warming ca. 100-1000

• explosion of volcano in Greenland,
leading to darkening of sky unknown

• several magnetic north and south poles, allowing
solar storms to disturb radio and telecommunications, to interrupt
electricity supplies, to increase animal mutations, and to disorient
migrating animals such as wales, birds and
tortoises ca. 800

• our interstellar gas cloud detaches from the solar systems, changing
the size of the heliosphere, and thus expose us more to aurorae and
solar magnetic fields ca. 3000

• subsequent reversal of earth's magnetic field,\indexcosmic rays with
increased cosmic radiation levels and thus more skin cancers and miscarriages
unknown

• atmospheric oxygen depletion due to forest reduction and exaggerated fuel
consumption > 1000

• upcoming ice age ca. 15 000

• possible collision with interstellar gas cloud assumed to be crossed
by the earth every 60 million years, maybe causing mass extinctions
ca. 50 000

• possible genetic degeneration of homo sapiens due to Y chromosome
reduction ca. 200 000

• gamma ray burst from within our own galaxy, causing
radiation damage to many living beings
between 0 and 5 x 10^6

• asteroid hitting the earth, generating tsunamis, storms, darkening
sunlight, etc. between 0 and 50 x 10^6

• neighbouring star approaching, starting comet shower through
destabilization of Oort cloud and thus risk for life on earth
> 10^6

• American continent collides with Asia > 100 x 10^6

• instability of solar system > 100 x 10^6

• low atmospheric \rm CO_2
content stops photosynthesis > 100 x 10^6

• ocean level increase due to earth rotation slowing/stop
> 10^9

• temperature rise/fall (depending on location) due to earth rotation stop
> 10^9

• sun runs out of fuel, becomes red giant, engulfs earth 5.0 x 10^9

• sun stops burning, becomes white dwarf 5.2 x 10^9

• earth core solidifies, removing magnetic field and thus earth's cosmic
radiation shield 10.0 x 10^9

• nearby nova (e.g. Betelgeuse) bathes earth in annihilation
radiation unknown

• nearby supernova (e.g. Eta Carinae) blasts over solar system
unknown

• galaxy centre destabilises rest of galaxy unknown

• universe recollapses -- if ever >20 x 10^9

• matter decays into radiation -- if ever > 10^33

• problems with naked singularities unknown, controversial

• the vacuum becomes unstable unknown, controversial

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