Evidence Of Global Warming

Signs of global warming are all around us. And they may seem small, but they add to significant changes we can expect in the following few decades—changes that are already causing climate change. So don't stop and look around too hard at these signs of global warming — they're everywhere!

Below are some of the major global warming signs

More heat waves

Global warming is causing more heat waves, and they're happening more often. The number of days with extreme heat has increased globally by an average of 2.5 percent per decade since 1980, according to Nature Climate Change. The scientists who conducted the study found that some regions have seen increases in the frequency of heat waves as much as ten times greater than others. And sustained global warming will likely continue to lead to more frequent and intense heat waves in many areas.

Heat waves are deadly because they bring dehydration and a lack of access to air conditioning or other cooling systems for people who live in rural areas or poor communities with few resources to protect themselves from extreme temperatures. In a study, it has been found that in India, heat waves killed more than 3,500 people in a single month in May 2019, and temperatures could reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter for weeks at a time.

Wildfires

Global warming is causing wildfires to burn more furiously, leading to more carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels. The result to a loop that amplifies the effects of climate change.

Wildfires are widespread in many parts of the U.S. but are also becoming more common in Europe and Asia. Wildfires are now one of the most significant contributors to global warming.

Wildfires burn forests and other vegetation releasing massive amounts of smoke into the atmosphere. The impact goes beyond just carbon dioxide emissions — wildfires also release sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the atmosphere, which can damage the lungs and cause acid rain when it comes down in rainwater.

Sea level rise

Global warming is a threat to the world. Rising sea levels due to global warming are one of the most dangerous consequences of climate change. Studies reveal that the sea level has risen by around 20 centimeters since 1900, and it continues to rise at an increasing rate. Consequently, more than 40 percent of cities with more than 10,000 people are below sea level.

The United Nations estimates that if we fail to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sea levels could rise by as much as 4 meters (13 feet) by 2100. it would cause an estimated 200 million people worldwide to be displaced by rising waters, threatening their livelihoods and exposing them to health risks such as malnutrition and disease.

Rainfall and flooding

Rainfall and flooding due to global warming are other signs of global warming. The fact that the rain falls more in some places than others shows that the climate is changing. The rising temperatures cause the air to expand, which means it can hold more moisture, leading to more rainfall and flooding in some areas and less in others.

In addition to increasing rainfall intensity, many once dry areas are now experiencing flooding due to rising sea levels and increased meltwater from glaciers. For example, in 1997, a devastating flood in southwest England left nearly 2,000 people homeless. It was one of Britain's most significant floods ever recorded since records began in 1603.

Warmer and more acidic oceans

The ocean is the planet's largest reservoir and a vital part of our planet's ecosystem. The oceans are essential for supporting life, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, regulating climate, and providing resources such as food and energy. The ocean absorbs almost 30 percent of all human-induced carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels.

Water acidification leads to the death of marine life in many ways. Some scientists believe that many species could become extinct due to the acidification of ocean water.

Melting glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice

Melting glaciers and ice sheets is a visible sign of global warming. Glaciers are mountain systems that move in response to changes in temperature, precipitation, and other factors. Glacial ice is formed as snow falls on mountain tops and accumulates into layers over time. When glaciers melt, they leave behind landforms such as cirques (circles with steep sides), eskers (streams that flow laterally along a valley), and moraines (accumulations of detritus).

Sea ice is frozen seawater on the ocean surface. Its thickness varies seasonally, with more sea ice present during cold winters in the Northern Hemisphere than during warm summers in the Southern Hemisphere. As global warming progresses, sea ice is melting, thinning, and breaking into smaller pieces; this process may accelerate due to ocean acidification from carbon dioxide emissions.

The world's largest glacier in Greenland has shrunk by about 10 percent since the 1950s. Other glaciers have lost more than half their thickness since 1900. Glaciers are a vital part of all continents, especially in mountain ranges that form snowpacks that feed rivers and streams.

Bottom line

If we hesitate to prevent global warming, future generations may live in a world where they can play soccer on the beach and build sandcastles without worrying about rising sea levels. If we fail, then future generations will struggle to survive. In any case, as responsible people, we need to do something now, or our future will worsen.