Predictions for future climate change vary widely among scientists, with most models based on current levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. A 3-degree Celsius increase by 2100 could have catastrophic effects, including polar ice loss, flooding, desertification, and severe weather. To prevent these disasters, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and investing in alternative energy technologies are necessary. Preparedness and prevention should become top priorities for governments and citizens.
With considerable attention focused on the effects of global warming in the 21st century, many people are interested in predictions about future climate change. While many, if not most, scientists agree that the current global warming trend will affect climate, the predictions are far from uniform in nature. Indeed, scientific predictions for future climate change vary widely in all directions, leaving a confused and worried public unsure of what to expect in the coming years.
It’s natural to assume that a warming trend would lead to warmer temperatures around the world, but the matter is far from simple. In fact, most climate change scientists offer several models of future climate change based on exactly how much warmer Earth’s temperature will get by the year 2100 and beyond. Most predictive climate models are based on the current level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and take into account varying degrees of decline in CO2 levels in the 21st century. While nearly all widely accepted models suggest that overall temperature will rise, the amount and resulting effects vary greatly between scenarios.
Many future climate change predictions made at the dawn of the 21st century average the global temperature increase to be 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2100. While a 3-degree change may seem minor, the Scientists insist that the resulting effects could be catastrophic for both humans and the planet as a whole. Polar ice loss, massive flooding, increased desert weather, and sharp increases in storm surges are all commonly invoked results of this seemingly small change.
Assuming the average increase is correct, a large increase in polar ice melt is likely to occur in the 21st century. This melting can lead to sea level rise, inundating coastal regions around the world and potentially causing the loss of existing coastal cities and inhabited islands. The sea is also expected to warm dramatically, wreaking havoc on marine wildlife and greatly increasing the production of hurricanes, typhoons and severe marine storms.
Another devastating effect of many future climate change models is the spread of deserts across the globe. Desertification is the result of a loss of nutrients in the topsoil, rendering once fertile areas unsuitable for agriculture. Severe desertification will not only destroy many temperate and tropical ecosystems but could also seriously reduce the human food supply as traditionally farmland becomes wasteland.
Future predictions of climate change are justifiably frightening and appear to predict a long and difficult future ahead of the human race. Most scientists suggest that the best way to avoid or reduce many of the painful consequences of global warming is to drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Switching to clean, alternative fuels, investing in alternative energy technologies, and taking part in global efforts to educate people about sustainable practices can help prevent numerous disasters in the future. According to some experts, the best response to future climate change is preparedness and prevention. Although many scientists agree that the effects of global warming are inevitable, many experts believe that slowing its progression and reducing the impact on the planet should become top priorities for both governments and citizens of the world.
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