Why is the Weather Getting Scary

 

Why is the weather getting Scary?

The world is getting warmer

The average temperature of the Earth's surface has increased by about 0.85°C (1.4F) in the last 100 years. Up until 2015, 13 of the 14 warmest years in history had been recorded in the 21st Century. 2015 became the hottest year on record, but then was surpassed by a record-breaking 2016.

Reason : Greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide

Scientists believe that gases released from industry and agriculture (known as emissions) are adding to the natural greenhouse effect, the way the Earth's atmosphere traps some of the energy from the Sun.
Human activities such as burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas are increasing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2), the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. And to add to the damage humans are causing, carbon-absorbing forests are being cut down by thousands of square miles per year. The forests absorb harmful carbon-dioxide and release life giving oxygen.
The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is now higher than at any time in the last 800,000 years and reached a record high in May 2015. But 2016 marked five consecutive years of CO2 increases of at least two parts per million.

What are the effects?

Arctic sea ice melt

Higher temperatures, extreme weather events and higher sea levels are all linked to a warming climate and could have a drastic effect on all the world’s regions.
Since 1900, sea levels have risen by on average about 19cm globally. The rate of sea-level rise has accelerated in recent decades, placing a number of islands and low-lying countries at risk.
The retreat of polar ice sheets is an important contributor to this rise. Arctic sea ice is also shrinking because of higher temperatures.
An area of sea ice roughly 10 times the size of the UK has been lost since 1980s.

 What does the future hold?

Higher temperatures and more extreme weather

The scale of potential impacts is quite possibly enormous. The changes could drive shortages in freshwater, bring about major changes in food production conditions and cause a rise in the number of casualties from floods, storms, heat waves and droughts.
This is because climate change is expected to increase the frequency of extreme weather events .

 Projected temperature change (1986–2005 to 2081-2100)

If greenhouse gas emissions peak between 2010-2020 and then decline substantially

If greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise throughout the 21st century

Source: International Panel on Climate Change - Fifth Assessment Report

 What can be done?

World’s top ten greenhouse gas emitters

The top 10 greenhouse gas emitters make up over 70% of total emissions

China 24%

USA 12%

EU 9%

India 6%

Brazil 6%

Russia 5%

Japan 3%

Canada 2%

DR Congo 1.5%

Indonesia 1.5%

Limiting the damage

By the end of October 2015, 146 countries had submitted national climate plans on curbing emissions that are expected to form the cornerstone of a binding, global treaty on climate change.
According to a UN report, submissions in their current form point to a rise of 2.7°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100.
Scientists have determined that if temperature rises surpass 2°C, this will lead to substantial and dangerous climate impacts, which will hit the world's poor in particular.

 Average warming (°C) projected by 2100

If countries do not act
4.5 degrees

Following current policies
3.6 degrees

Based on Paris pledges
2°Centigrade

Source: Climate Action Tracker, data compiled by Climate Analytics, ECOFYS, New Climate Institute and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.