How It Works

How our CLIMATEIS CHANGING

Here are eight signs of the human impact on Earth’s climate and environmen­t

- WORDS SCOTT DUTFIELD

Climate change is described as a large-scale and long-term shift in Earth’s climatic patterns and average temperatur­es. These shifts have been exacerbate­d by human activity. For example, greenhouse gas emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) reached record highs of 417 parts per million in May 2020. CO2 naturally soaks up infrared radiation from the Sun and distribute­s the heat it produces across Earth, acting like a big blanket. This results in the rise of global temperatur­es, causing widespread alteration­s in Earth’s climate. Since 1880, Earth’s combined land and ocean temperatur­e has increased by an average rate of 0.08 degrees Celsius each decade.

As a result, countless aspects of our environmen­t and ecosystems are altering. From record-breaking forest fires to unpreceden­ted shifts in weather, there are many warning signs from all corners of our planet that show our world is changing.

 ?? ??
 ?? ?? Humans release pollutants into the air from industry
Humans release pollutants into the air from industry

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom