Climate change has been dominating global headlines in the past couple of years, with global warming its most profound consequence. Scientists have warned of the perils of rising atmospheric temperatures, yet natural disasters and long-term effects of warmer oceans remain under-appreciated. We face a future where extreme weather events, sea level rises, and biodiversity loss become the norm, so it is vitally important to consider what global warming will cause in the future.
One of the primary concerns in the face of unchecked global warming is rising sea levels. Rising temperatures are linked to the expansion of the ocean and melting glaciers on land, which both contribute to higher sea levels. As temperatures continually increase, ocean waters absorb much of the heat energy, expanding even more and contributing to faster rising sea levels. In addition, seemingly isolated events such as polar ice sheet melting or strong ocean winds can have a significant influence. A significant increase in the ocean’s surface area could cause the displacement of hundreds of millions of people living in coastal areas, disruption of global shipping lanes, and increased erosion of shorelines.
Besides its effects on the land, global warming can also bring in drastic changes to oceanic life. Coral reefs, which are invaluable for their complex ecosystems and for providing coastal protection, are highly vulnerable to warming waters. Rising temperatures and ocean acidification erode the delicate skeletons of coral polyps, leading to their death. The resulting loss of bio-diversity will be deemed huge and spectacular, with the unique and rich variety of life living on these habitats gone.
In addition to sea level rises and oceanic changes, soaring temperatures are also linked to extreme weather events. Holocene temperatures follow cyclical patterns, and beyond that cyclicity, dramatic fluctuations become increasingly frequent. Damaging hurricanes, expanding droughts, and intense flooding are all associated with climate change. A chain reaction of disasters consisting of air pollution, hazardous health conditions, diminishing food sources, and species extinction can take place. Such events have the potential to plunge civilizations into chaos, or even collapse.
Increasing temperatures on land and sea can cause a staggering damage to global ecology and human life alike. Ignoring the implications of global warming could have disastrous consequences and thus, active steps must be taken as soon as possible. To prevent future catastrophes, every individual should be equipped with the necessary knowledge to help protect our planet and its inhabitants. Some of the possible efforts include using sustainable and renewable sources of energy, becoming aware of regional climates and taking active steps to minimize their repercussions, and making conscious, eco-friendly decisions.
Global warming is one of the most pressing issues of our current times. Unless urgent, effective action is taken to reduce our global emissions, the consequences for our planet will be dire. We must remember that we have the power to shape our fate and work to create a better, cleaner, and safer future.
