Alien Climate Change Scenarios...

University of Rochester illustration / Michael Osadciw

Topics: Astrobiology, Climate Change, Mathematical Models, Planetary Science, SETI

Researchers developed a mathematical model to determine how alien civilizations might cope with climate change. The research was led by astrophysicist Adam Frank, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Rochester. The researchers looked at the problem of civilized planets facing climate change from an astrobiological perspective.

Frank says in a statement, "If we're not the universe's first civilization, that means there are likely to be rules for how the fate of a young civilization like our own progresses. The point is to recognize that driving climate change may be something generic. The laws of physics demand that any young population, building an energy-intensive civilization like ours, is going to have feedback on its planet. Seeing climate change in this cosmic context may give us better insight into what’s happening to us now and how to deal with it."

The Four Scenarios:

1. Die off

2. Sustainability

3. Collapse without resources

4. Collapse with resources

My vote is #2.

Researchers Envision Four Climate Change Scenarios for Civilization-Planet Systems
Science, Space and Robots

#P4TC: ET and Climate Change...June 25, 2014