7 Major Damage That Is Happening To The World As The Temperature Rises Now we humans are changing the earth’s climate little by little every moment. The result is warmer summer temperatures, more storms, rising sea levels, and more severe wildfires.
For the past two decades, scientists have been warning that global warming caused by carbon emissions could be driving nature’s vast systems toward destruction. Because these systems are so large, they can remain in equilibrium to some extent even as temperatures rise. But this balance is only possible up to a certain point.
According to scientists, once we raise the Earth’s temperature above a certain point, this balance can be thrown out of balance and the effects will be widespread. It is not impossible to reverse it, but it will be very difficult.
Mass destruction of coral reefs
Marine organisms called corals form groups of rock-like mounds known as ‘coral reefs’. These colorful coral reefs are home to about 25 percent of the world’s marine life.
Earlier such bleaching was done only occasionally. As global temperatures rise, this has been happening regularly lately. Bleaching does not mean that the corals are completely dead. If the temperature improves, they may return to their original form after some time.
Scientists estimate that even if humans act as soon as possible to stop global warming, 70 to 90 percent of corals will die within decades. If nothing is done, 99 percent or more of the coral will die.
Permafrost thawing suddenly
Permafrost is the coldest place in the world, that is, the ground that freezes at or below zero degrees Celsius for at least two consecutive years.
The remains of long-dead plants and animals stored in these areas contain nearly twice as much carbon as is currently in the atmosphere. Microorganisms are activated when heat, fires, and rains thaw frozen ground. And, they convert this carbon into carbon dioxide and methane which are greenhouse gases. These gases cause more heat, fires, and rain. And it speeds up the melting process.
Greenland’s ice melt
The giant ice caps covering the Earth’s two poles are not melting like normal icebergs. A variety of factors determine how quickly those huge and complexly shaped floes melt and raise sea levels. Of concern to scientists are the factors that can speed up the melting process rather than stop it.
As the ice surface in Greenland decreases, more of it is exposed to progressively warmer air and it begins to melt even faster.
Ice breakup in West Antarctica
The ice in West Antarctica is threatened more by warmer water than by warmer air.
As many of the glaciers here merge into the sea, their bottoms are constantly exposed to sea currents. As the water temperature rises, these floating ice floes melt and weaken from below. As the amount of floating ice needed to prevent this decreases, more ice from the interior of the continent will flow into the ocean. Eventually, the ice near the water will break under its own weight.
The abrupt change in the West African monsoon
About 15,000 years ago, the Sahara desert began to turn green. This process began when small changes in the Earth’s orbit caused North Africa to become progressively more sunny each summer. As it became sunny, the ground warmed up and moist air from the Andhra Ocean began to flow towards the region. Because of that wind, the monsoon rains started, the grasses grew and the lakes filled. Elephants, giraffes, cattle, as well as humans flourished. It was only about five thousand years ago that the region turned back into today’s harsh desert.
Scientists already know that the Sahara has cycled through arid and green cycles many times in the past. But they cannot say with certainty how the West African monsoon will or will change due to today’s warming. When this change will happen, it is also difficult to say.
Destruction of the Amazon forest
The Amazon forest is home to hundreds of indigenous communities, millions of animal and plant species, and 4 trillion trees. Countless other species of animals are yet to be discovered and whose names are unknown. These forests also play a major role in climate, storing large amounts of carbon that can increase the Earth’s temperature.
All of the gases emitted by the trees in the Amazon reach the top and turn into clouds. Rainfall from these cloudbursts helps to keep the area green and covered with trees.
Closing of the Andhra Ocean
In the Andean Ocean, it runs from the west coast of Africa through the Caribbean region up the seafloor to Europe and back to Africa. This vast cycle of ocean water determines the temperature and precipitation of a vast area of the globe. Salty and denser water moves deeper into the ocean, while fresher and less dense water rises to the surface. Thus the cycle continues.
But now the melting ice in Greenland is upsetting this balance by mixing a new influx of fresh water into the northern Andean Ocean. This can occur if the water cycle is too slow. And, scientists fear that it could reverse the climate patterns of Europe and the tropics. Such climate changes will affect the lives of millions of people in the region.
