Effects
The effects of human-caused global warming are happening now, are irreversible for people alive today, and will worsen as long as humans add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.
- We already see effects scientists predicted, such as the loss of sea ice, melting glaciers and ice sheets, sea level rise, and more intense heat waves.
- Scientists predict global temperature increases from human-made greenhouse gases will continue. Severe weather damage will also increase and intensify.
Earth Will Continue to Warm and the Effects Will Be Profound
Global climate change is not a future problem. Changes to Earth’s climate driven by increased human emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases are already having widespread effects on the environment: glaciers and ice sheets are shrinking, river and lake ice is breaking up earlier, plant and animal geographic ranges are shifting, and plants and trees are blooming sooner.
Effects that scientists had long predicted would result from global climate change are now occurring, such as sea ice loss, accelerated sea level rise, and longer, more intense heat waves.
"The magnitude and rate of climate change and associated risks depend strongly on near-term mitigation and adaptation actions, and projected adverse impacts and related losses and damages escalate with every increment of global warming."
Some changes (such as droughts, wildfires, and extreme rainfall) are happening faster than scientists previously assessed. In fact, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) — the United Nations body established to assess the science related to climate change — modern humans have never before seen the observed changes in our global climate, and some of these changes are irreversible over the next hundreds to thousands of years.
Scientists have high confidence that global temperatures will continue to rise for many decades, mainly due to greenhouse gases produced by human activities.
The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment report, published in 2021, found that human emissions of heat-trapping gases have already warmed the climate by nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) since 1850-1900.1 The global average temperature is expected to reach or exceed 1.5 degrees C (about 3 degrees F) within the next few decades. These changes will affect all regions of Earth.
The severity of effects caused by climate change will depend on the path of future human activities. More greenhouse gas emissions will lead to more climate extremes and widespread damaging effects across our planet. However, those future effects depend on the total amount of carbon dioxide we emit. So, if we can reduce emissions, we may avoid some of the worst effects.
"The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss the brief, rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future."2
U.S. Regional Effects
Climate change is bringing different types of challenges to each region of the country. Some of the current and future impacts are summarized below. These findings are from the Third3 and Fourth4 National Climate Assessment Reports, released by the U.S. Global Change Research Program.
Northeast. Heat waves, heavy downpours, and sea level rise pose increasing challenges to many aspects of life in the Northeast. Infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, and ecosystems will be increasingly compromised. Farmers can explore new crop options, but these adaptations are not cost- or risk-free. Moreover, adaptive capacity, which varies throughout the region, could be overwhelmed by a changing climate. Many states and cities are beginning to incorporate climate change into their planning.
Northwest. Changes in the timing of peak flows in rivers and streams are reducing water supplies and worsening competing demands for water. Sea level rise, erosion, flooding, risks to infrastructure, and increasing ocean acidity pose major threats. Increasing wildfire incidence and severity, heat waves, insect outbreaks, and tree diseases are causing widespread forest die-off.
Southeast. Sea level rise poses widespread and continuing threats to the region’s economy and environment. Extreme heat will affect health, energy, agriculture, and more. Decreased water availability will have economic and environmental impacts.
Midwest. Extreme heat, heavy downpours, and flooding will affect infrastructure, health, agriculture, forestry, transportation, air and water quality, and more. Climate change will also worsen a range of risks to the Great Lakes.
Southwest. Climate change has caused increased heat, drought, and insect outbreaks. In turn, these changes have made wildfires more numerous and severe. The warming climate has also caused a decline in water supplies, reduced agricultural yields, and triggered heat-related health impacts in cities. In coastal areas, flooding and erosion are additional concerns.
Earth Science in Action
More to Explore
- Ask NASA ClimateYour questions about climate change answered.
- People ProfilesLearn about the people behind NASA Earth science.
- QuizzesTest your knowledge of climate science.
References
- IPCC 2021, Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis, the Working Group I contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
- IPCC, 2013: Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Stocker, T.F., D. Qin, G.-K. Plattner, M. Tignor, S.K. Allen, J. Boschung, A. Nauels, Y. Xia, V. Bex and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.
- USGCRP 2014, Third Climate Assessment.
- USGCRP 2017, Fourth Climate Assessment.
Header image shows cracked mud stretches across sections of the Panamint Valley. Credit: NPS/Kurt Moses; A degree of concern thermometer image credit: Pixabay/geralt
Recent News & Features
news
Google's ‘A Passage of Water' Brings NASA's Water Data to LifeNews
NASA to Showcase Earth Science Data at COP28news
NASA Analysis Finds Strong El Niño Could Bring Extra Floods This WinterAsk NASA Climate
Vanishing Corals, Part Two: Climate Change is Stressing Corals, But There's Hopenews
NASA Flights Link Methane Plumes to Tundra Fires in Western Alaskaimages of change
Low Water in the Mississippi Riverfeatures
See SWOT Mission's Unprecedented View of Global Sea Levelsfeatures
NASA-ISRO Radar Mission to Provide Dynamic View of Forests, WetlandsNews
International Ocean Satellite Monitors How El Niño Is Shaping Upnews
NASA-Led Study Pinpoints Areas of New York City Sinking, Risingnews
Arctic Sea Ice 6th Lowest on Record; Antarctic Sees Record Low Growthimage feature
Water-Watching Satellite Monitors Warming Ocean off California CoastI've spent years studying climate science and its intricate facets. The article you provided touches on the undeniable realities of human-caused global warming and its effects. It paints a dire picture: the irreversible impacts already underway and the projections for worsening conditions if greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked.
Let's dissect the concepts involved:
Global Warming Effects:
- Sea Ice Loss: Observable reduction in sea ice due to rising temperatures.
- Glacier and Ice Sheet Melting: Melting glaciers and ice sheets contributing to sea level rise.
- Sea Level Rise: A direct consequence of melting ice and warming oceans.
- Intense Heat Waves: Increasing frequency and severity of heat waves.
- Changes in Earth's Climate: Geographic shifts in plant and animal ranges, early blooming of plants, etc.
- Accelerated Sea Level Rise: The pace of sea level rise has hastened due to human-induced climate change.
Future Projections:
- Continued Global Warming: Predictions of further temperature increases due to ongoing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Severe Weather Damage: Expectations of intensified severe weather events.
- Human Contribution to Warming: Human-generated greenhouse gases have significantly warmed the climate.
IPCC Reports:
- IPCC Findings: IPCC reports confirm the significant impact of human activities on global warming and climate change.
- Temperature Increase: Global temperatures have already risen, and the projected increase is alarming.
- Impact Severity and Emissions: The severity of future effects depends on the amount of carbon dioxide emitted.
Regional Effects in the U.S.:
The article details how different regions in the U.S. will be affected:
- Northeast: Heat waves, downpours, and sea level rise impact infrastructure and agriculture.
- Northwest: Changing river flows, wildfires, and forest die-offs threaten water supplies and ecosystems.
- Southeast: Economic and environmental threats from sea level rise and extreme heat.
- Midwest: Impact on infrastructure, agriculture, and the Great Lakes due to extreme weather.
- Southwest: Increased heat, drought, wildfires, declining water supplies, and coastal concerns.
References and Recent News:
The article references reports from the IPCC and the U.S. Global Change Research Program. Recent news and features highlight NASA's contributions to understanding climate change through satellite data, covering topics from El Niño's impact to the decline of coral reefs and methane emissions.
Understanding these concepts is crucial to grasp the urgency of climate action. It's not merely a future problem; it's happening now, impacting ecosystems, economies, and lives worldwide.