1 Ski Boot Ski Gear

An increasingly large amount of peer-reviewed research, published since the IPCC 4th Assessment Report was released in 2007, shows that global warming is happening right now, and that it is quicker than predicted just 2 years ago.

The evidence for this statement is from a multitude of areas. Some of the regions currently undergoing change are shown below.

-Multiple plants and animals, in widespread sites, are already showing evidence of climate change. Examples include the timing of plant flowering, animal breeding, and lake thawing.

-Higher ocean surface temperatures in Pacific & Atlantic hurricane-formation zones leading to stronger cyclones are definitely related to anthropogenic warming.

-Ocean acidification is happening rapidly, as a result of CO2 in large amounts being dissolved in sea water. This will have massive changes on marine ecosystems and also food security for many nations.

-Probable sea-level rise over the next 100 years will be higher than that calculated in 2007. It will probably increase at least 100cm, based on newly released scientific studies.

-The accelerated melting of the ice sheet in Greenland that started in 2004 has been definitely linked to climate change.

-West Antarctica has melted at an accelerated rate since 1999 and has suffered 10 major ice shelf collapses since then. After an ice shelf collapses there is a rapid and marked acceleration of glacial flows, contributing to sea level increases.

-Northern polar sea-ice is melting much quicker than previously estimated, and it is likely that the Arctic will be free of ice in summer within a few decades.

-Arctic Circle permafrost is thawing much faster than recently thought, and is liberating a lot more greenhouse gases than forecast.

The climate change that we are now witnessing is expected to continue for millennia, even after all anthropogenic carbon dioxide production stops. This is because of the major lags present in the climate system, and the slow removal of CO2 from the atmosphere.

Helpful Articles