SCIENCE
ON CLIMATE CHANGE: ENVIRONMENT
NEWS: What
is the latest science telling us about climate change?
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
The world may have
already surpassed 1.5°C of warming, leading to accelerated climate impacts such
as weakened ocean circulations, diminishing forest carbon absorption,
intensified wildfires, and potential tipping points in ecosystems. These
changes highlight the urgent need for climate action.
Global Temperature and
Climate Threshold
- Analysis of
Antarctic ice cores suggests 1.49°C warming in 2023, indicating the
critical threshold may already be surpassed.
- Previous
measurements using 1850-1900 as the baseline reported warming at 1.3°C.
- Significance
of the Threshold:
- Crossing
1.5°C marks irreversible climate impacts like accelerated ice melt,
rising sea levels, and ecosystem collapse.
Impact on Ocean
Circulations and Ecosystems
- Atlantic
Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC):
- Weakened by
15% since 1950, approaching a critical slowdown, affecting European and
global climate patterns.
- Ongoing
fourth mass bleaching event indicates irreversible damage to coral reefs.
Wildfires and Droughts
- Climate
change contributed to 13% of wildfire smoke-related deaths in the 2010s.
- Faced the
worst drought in 2024, threatening to transition from a rainforest to
degraded forests.
Forests and Carbon
Sequestration
- Reduced
Carbon Absorption:
- A 2024 study
revealed forests globally are absorbing less CO₂, diminishing their role
in mitigating climate change.
Volcanic Eruptions
- Climate-Driven
Volcanism:
- Rapid
glacier retreat in Iceland is reducing pressure on the Earth’s crust,
potentially increasing volcanic activity.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/what-is-the-latest-science-telling-us-about-climate-change/article69071821.ece