Imagine the earth being slowly transformed from a letter into an abstract symbol. This is what scientists in the Arctic are witnessing as our planet continues to heat up and melt. Unfortunately, more and more of this adverse change is happening as we continue to damage Earth’s environment, with extreme consequences for life on this planet.
Causes of Extreme Heat Events
One of the major causes of extreme heat events is climate change. Global warming from carbon emissions has increased the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, trapping more heat in Earth’s atmosphere. These factors combined have led to more extreme heat waves and droughts that can last for weeks or months on end.
The latest extreme heat event
The last month has brought us extreme heat events, which are becoming more and more frequent. This summer is the hottest on record with temperatures soaring in excess of 1 degree Celsius above average, according to NASA. Some parts of Europe have been experiencing record-breaking heat for weeks now. Other areas that have not seen these high temperatures over the past few years are also seeing high highs. These extreme conditions have caused wildfires around the world, including in Canada and California, not to mention all the flooding we’ve had in recent years due to storms and hurricanes, such as Harvey and Irma.
Predictions for Earth’s Climate
Climate change is predicted to be due to higher temperatures throughout the year. The increase in rainfall has also been linked to climate change. Over the past few decades, temperature has risen by an average of one degree Celsius every ten years, which is causing a rise in sea levels and more frequent storms. The world has already seen areas being affected by the effects of climate change, from heatwaves in Europe, droughts and floods in Australia to devastating hurricanes. 1,200 animals are also at risk of extinction due to rising sea levels and changes in their habitats.
The report says that deforestation will cause more carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere, while we will continue to rely on fossil fuels and put pressure on reserves such as oil and coal. The report states that if nothing is done , temperatures will rise by as much as 5.4°C, affecting the most vulnerable groups of people and threatening to disrupt agricultural production. Many countries have already adopted plans to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. The UK, for example, recently announced it would be phasing out coal-fired power stations by 2025, while France has pledged to reduce its energy consumption by 20% in the same time frame. However, these steps are not enough and the IPCC says we need to act now or face “unprecedented” climate change. The IPCC’s report, which is based on the most comprehensive analysis of the science to date, was compiled by 2,500 scientists from 90 countries and published in full on Friday.
What to do if you are worried about global warming
If you are worried about global warming or the environment, there are many things you can do to help. One of those things is recycling. Recycling is important because it helps to reduce the amount of waste in the world. It even reduces pollution by cutting off the need for fossil fuels that would otherwise be used to make new materials. Another thing you can do is switch your light bulbs to LED lights. LED lights last much longer and use less energy than regular bulbs. Interesting Facts about Earth
