by Gregory McNamee

There is scarcely a reputable scientist—and none in the earth sciences—who doubts the reality of climate change today. Plenty of ideologues do, and it seems that no amount of evidence or fact can sway them. Still, here are a few bits and pieces from the recent news that speak pointedly to the issue.

Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus)--©Eric Gevaert/Fotolia

Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus)–©Eric Gevaert/Fotolia

To begin, thousands of bats died last month in Queensland, Australia, after a period of unusually hot weather (remember, of course, that it’s summer in the Southern Hemisphere). The temperatures exceeded the hitherto scarcely surpassed barrier of 43C, or 110F, at several points. Reports The Guardian, the death of the bats is profound enough, but bats, now disoriented by the heat, also carry numerous viruses that are extremely dangerous to humans, including Australian bat lyssavirus and Hendra virus.

Meanwhile, in what are supposed to be cooler climes in the Southern Hemisphere, Magellanic penguins are declining in number because of extreme heat, which is especially dangerous for young birds, as well as ever more intense rainstorms, which are themselves a by-product of abundant heat in the atmosphere. Writing in the online journal PLoS One, scientists who have studied a Magellanic population in Argentina for three decades note an increasing trend of reproductive failure and increased infant mortality that can be directly attributed to climate change. continue reading…