Global Warming
“An increasing body of observations gives
a collective picture of a warming world
and other changes in the climate system.”
FINGERPRINTS: Direct manifestations of a widespread and long-term trend toward warmer global temperatures
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Heat waves and periods of unusually warm weather -
Ocean warming, sea-level rise and coastal flooding -
Glaciers melting -
Arctic and Antarctic warming
HARBINGERS: Events that foreshadow the types of impacts likely to become more frequent and widespread with continued warming.
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Spreading disease -
Earlier spring arrival -
Plant and animal range shifts and population changes -
Coral reef bleaching -
Downpours, heavy snowfalls, and flooding -
Droughts and fires
The map of early warning signs clearly illustrates the global nature of climate changes. In its 2001 assessment, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that, �an increasing body of observations gives a collective picture of a warming world and other changes in the climate system.”
While North America and Europe—where the science is strongest—exhibit the highest density of indicators, scientists have made a great effort in recent years to document the early impacts of global warming on other continents. Our map update reflects this emerging knowledge from all parts of the world.
Although factors other than climate may have intensified the severity of some of the events on the map, scientists predict such problems will increase if emissions of heat-trapping gases are not brought under control.
Stephen Gately