Which unlikely phenomenon? Answer: Global warming (seriously)!
Scientists have observed a steady increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans, since the mid-twentieth century.
They projected the continuation of this trend, and, have cited anthropogenic factors as the chief catalyst (of this trend).
According to IPCC estimates, average global surface temperatures have the likelihood of rising a further 1.1 to 6.4 °C (2.0 to 11.5 °F) during the twenty-first century.
The possible adverse effects of this increase in global surface temperatures include:
Glaciers are huge masses of ice that float (at slow speeds) over landmasses. They are formed from compacted snow; in regions where snow accumulation exceeds melting and sublimation. Ice glaciers cover 11% of the world's landmass, with 99% of them being located in Antarctica and Greenland.
When glaciers melt, they gouge out and transport the mineral material within (& underneath) them. This process leaves behind gold deposits, which are then transported to low-lying areas by massive ice sheets.
...Moving on:
During the last 20 years of the 20th century, a significant increase in global warming led to glacier retreat becoming increasingly rapid and ubiquitous. This statement implies that the rate of glacier retreat is positively correlated to the rate of global surface temperature change.
Mathematically expressed:
Where:
Glacier retreat will increase RAPIDLY during the 21st century; since global warming is set to increase at an even more (than its rate in the 20th century) rapid rate during the 21st century This means that a lot of gold that is trapped within (& underneath) glaciers will be released onto low lying areas and into river basins: which are relatively easily accessible.
This may cause an increase in the supply of gold over the next 50 years.
By what quantities? It is impossible to tell at this stage--but the rate of increase (of gold supply) will be high. Whether the supply alters prices or not: is largely dependent on how the demand for gold evolves during that period.
The connection between Global warming and increased supply of gold (and falling gold prices; assuming constant gold demand) is not immediately obvious and takes a bit of explaining to illuminate:
Scientists have observed a steady increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans, since the mid-twentieth century.
They projected the continuation of this trend, and, have cited anthropogenic factors as the chief catalyst (of this trend).
According to IPCC estimates, average global surface temperatures have the likelihood of rising a further 1.1 to 6.4 °C (2.0 to 11.5 °F) during the twenty-first century.
The possible adverse effects of this increase in global surface temperatures include:
- Changes in agricultural yields (because of climate change; especially the changes of rainfall patterns).
- Changes (which may be sub-optimum) in transportation routes, in response to climatically influenced terrain changes.
- Extinction of flora and fauna species; as a direct result of climatic changes
- An increase in disease vectors.
- Glacier retreat which may boost gold supply (within the next 50 years):
Before exploring how glacier retreat would result in the increased supply of gold over the next 50 years, one would need to know what glaciers are:
Glaciers are huge masses of ice that float (at slow speeds) over landmasses. They are formed from compacted snow; in regions where snow accumulation exceeds melting and sublimation. Ice glaciers cover 11% of the world's landmass, with 99% of them being located in Antarctica and Greenland.
...So what do glaciers have to do with gold:
Glaciers usually have gold deposits that are trapped within (& underneath) them.When glaciers melt, they gouge out and transport the mineral material within (& underneath) them. This process leaves behind gold deposits, which are then transported to low-lying areas by massive ice sheets.
...Moving on:
During the last 20 years of the 20th century, a significant increase in global warming led to glacier retreat becoming increasingly rapid and ubiquitous. This statement implies that the rate of glacier retreat is positively correlated to the rate of global surface temperature change.
Mathematically expressed:
Rgr = k.dt
Where:
- Rgr : is the rate of glacier retreat
- k : is a constant
- dt : is the rate of global surface temperature change
Glacier retreat will increase RAPIDLY during the 21st century; since global warming is set to increase at an even more (than its rate in the 20th century) rapid rate during the 21st century This means that a lot of gold that is trapped within (& underneath) glaciers will be released onto low lying areas and into river basins: which are relatively easily accessible.
This may cause an increase in the supply of gold over the next 50 years.
By what quantities? It is impossible to tell at this stage--but the rate of increase (of gold supply) will be high. Whether the supply alters prices or not: is largely dependent on how the demand for gold evolves during that period.
