Climate change is
presenting the world with more “unknown unknowns”.
The former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld,
talked about “known unknowns and unknown unknowns” and although he was not talking about the implications climate
change, but could have been.
An example of the dilemma highlighted by Rumsfeld is
happening in Siberia where in the middle of last summer suddenly large craters
appeared that as first seemed inexplicable.
It is now understood, however, that they are a product of
climate change that has thawed the permafrost and allowed methane to escape.
A Melbourne Age
story headed: “Scientists know there are more giant craters in Siberia, but arenervous to even study them” discusses the craters and points out that officials
don’t want to scare people, but need to further examine explore the causes of
the craters.
