What Are Some Effects Of Climate Change – Climate change is already having tangible effects around the world. The world is warming, rainfall patterns are changing, and sea levels are rising. These changes can increase the risk of heat waves, floods, droughts and fires.
A changing climate affects crop growth and people’s health, while many people may need to leave their homes. It puts certain species at increased risk of extinction. The effects of climate change are real, and they are already happening.
What Are Some Effects Of Climate Change
The extent of climate change we will see depends on how quickly we reduce emissions of harmful greenhouse gases. Even if we stopped all emissions today, we would not be able to prevent further changes. However, the sooner we reduce emissions, the smaller the changes will be.
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We know that greenhouse gases, aerosol emissions and land use affect our climate. In general, human activities are warming the earth.
Find out more about these and other climate change indicators in our global climate dashboard and extremes dashboard.
In a recent report, the United Nations Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) showed a difference between 1.5°C and 2°C of global warming. But unless we reduce emissions quickly, the world may exceed 2°C of temperature. By the end of this century, temperatures could reach 4°C, perhaps more.
Climate change will increase the risk of various problems around the world. Although developed countries produce most of the greenhouse gases, it is predicted that developing countries will see most of the severe effects. Since there are limited resources to adapt to these changes, the impact on people in developing countries is expected to be high.
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The average global temperature has risen by more than 1°C since the 1850s. 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 were the hottest years on record. The numbers show us that the world has been warming since the Industrial Revolution.
This project shows the change in global temperature from 1850 to 2022, compared to the estimated 1850-1900 baseline temperature.
Global warming is leading to many other changes in our climate. As the planet warms, heat waves increase. In the last few years, heat waves have been the worst weather hazard worldwide.
Oceans absorb 90% of the extra heat produced by human influence. However, when water is heated, it expands to take up more volume. So, when the oceans heat up, they also expand, causing the sea water to rise. We also have more water flowing into the ocean from glaciers and ice melt. Between 1901 and 2018, the average global sea level has risen by about 20 centimeters.
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Some parts of the planet, such as the north and south, are warming faster than other regions. Meanwhile, ice and ice reflect energy from the sun into space. So, the weaker the ice, the less energy from the sun is reflected in the distance. The area then warms even faster, causing more ice to melt.
Arctic ice is melting rapidly. It is already 65% thinner than it was in 1975. Late summer Arctic sea ice coverage is now the smallest in at least 1,000 years. If we don’t reduce emissions quickly, we could see an ice-free summer in the Arctic by the middle of this century.
When the ice caps melt, fresh water flows into the ocean. In addition to causing sea levels to rise, fresh water also reduces the salinity (salt) of the water, which can reduce or change the tides.
The oceans also absorb about 25% of the carbon dioxide that humans emit from the air. The oceans then become less alkaline, a process called ‘ocean acidification’. Ocean acidification is bad because it can have negative effects on aquatic life, such as corals and plankton, which are an important part of the food chain.
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**Marvel et al 2019 provides new evidence that drought has increased in some areas at specific times since 1900 (with aerosols possibly masking that subtle trend), and that this is related to changes in the weather.
Warmer air can hold more water, so precipitation is increasing around the world. Elsewhere, the rain is getting heavier. However, some areas receive less rainfall due to changing wind patterns.
We are already feeling the effects of climate change. Rising sea levels are causing problems for people around the world. Almost 4 in 10 people (39%) live within 100 kilometers of the coast and are at risk of flooding if sea levels continue to rise. 600 million people live in the “low coastal” area, and 200 million in the coastal flood zone.
Even if we reduce emissions, sea levels will continue to rise until the year 2100 (see the Sea Level Chart for more information on these projections). But, if we reduce emissions equally, we can reduce the rate of increase. Many people will have to leave their homes, but the number will vary depending on how we react, by reducing global warming and improving flood protection.
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Floods can also occur when heavy rain clogs water systems or bursts river banks. In cities and towns with a lot of concrete, the effect is worse because the water cannot sink directly into the soil. Flooding causes significant damage to buildings and transportation, which can be very costly and difficult to recover.
As the climate warms and rainfall patterns change, it may be difficult to grow enough food in some areas. Climate will change which crops can grow in different areas. Some areas may be able to grow new crops, but many areas will experience reduced crop production, especially in hotter countries.
Colder countries may see higher yields because there will be a longer growing season and higher levels of carbon dioxide. However, these effects may not last if the warming continues for a long time. Extreme weather events can also disrupt access to food, affecting transport from farms to markets, which can affect vulnerable people.
As you can see, climate change has many effects, and it affects people around the world in different ways. The level of influence depends on the climate of the area and the wealth of the country. The effects of climate change are ‘stress multipliers’, meaning they often exacerbate existing problems.
Global Warming Science
Let’s look at heat waves, for example. We expect many areas to experience more intense heat. In countries that are already hot, human heat stress limits will often be exceeded, which is dangerous.
As another example, increased flooding is another risk. Frequently flooded countries, such as Bangladesh, are expected to see more frequent floods, putting many communities at risk.
If the climate continues to change, many parts of the world will become difficult places to live. People may have to leave their homes. Climate is one of many drivers of human migration, but it will play an increasingly important role in the future.
Climate change is causing warming across the UK. All of the UK’s ten warmest years on record have occurred since 2002. Heat waves, such as the summer of 2018, are 30 times more likely to occur due to climate change.
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Winters in the UK are expected to be warmer and wetter on average, although cold or dry winters will still occur at times. Summer is expected to be hotter and possibly drier, although wet summers are also possible. By 2050, temperatures like those seen in 2018 are expected to occur every year.
A lot of rain is likely. Since 1998, the UK has seen six of the ten wettest years on record. Hurricanes in the winter of 2015 could be 40% more likely to occur due to climate change.
This app is a collaboration with the BBC. It uses climate forecasts and records to visualize climate change in the UK.
Even if we reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sea levels around the UK will still rise beyond 2100. Parts of the UK will be at risk of flooding, and low-lying and coastal communities is particularly vulnerable.
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Agriculture in the UK will also be affected by climate change. A hotter climate and higher CO2 levels can make it easier to grow other crops, or allow us to develop new ones. However, as more drought is expected, water may not be easy to access, making it difficult for farmers to plan the growing season. Some of the crops we grow today may also not be suitable for high temperatures.
Floods, storms and extreme heat can cause damage to buildings, disrupt transportation and affect health. Buildings and infrastructure need to be adapted to cope with the new conditions. Businesses will have to plan around the changing climate. To help the UK understand what climate change means for society, the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment is published every 5 years. available in UK Climate Projections (UKCP18).
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