Climate change encompasses not only rising average temperatures but also extreme weather events, shifting wildlife populations and habitats, rising seas, and a ...
SkiptocontentRenewSubscribeMenuReferenceEffectsofglobalwarmingThesignsofglobalwarmingareeverywhere,andaremorecomplexthanjustclimbingtemperatures.2:49CAUSESANDEFFECTSOFCLIMATECHANGEWhatcausesclimatechange?Andhowdoesitrelatetoglobalwarming?Learnabouttheimpactandconsequencesofclimatechangeandglobalwarmingfortheenvironmentandourlives.Theplanetiswarming,fromNorthPoletoSouthPole.Since1906,theglobalaveragesurfacetemperaturehasincreasedbymorethan1.6degreesFahrenheit(0.9degreesCelsius)—evenmoreinsensitivepolarregions.Andtheimpactsofrisingtemperaturesaren’twaitingforsomefar-flungfuture–theeffectsofglobalwarmingareappearingrightnow.Theheatismeltingglaciersandseaice,shiftingprecipitationpatterns,andsettinganimalsonthemove.Manypeoplethinkofglobalwarmingandclimatechangeassynonyms,butscientistsprefertouse“climatechange”whendescribingthecomplexshiftsnowaffectingourplanet’sweatherandclimatesystems.Climatechangeencompassesnotonlyrisingaveragetemperaturesbutalsoextremeweatherevents,shiftingwildlifepopulationsandhabitats,risingseas,andarangeofotherimpacts.Allofthesechangesareemergingashumanscontinuetoaddheat-trappinggreenhousegasestotheatmosphere.Scientistsalreadyhavedocumentedtheseimpactsofclimatechange:Iceismeltingworldwide,especiallyattheEarth’spoles.Thisincludesmountainglaciers,icesheetscoveringWestAntarcticaandGreenland,andArcticseaice.InMontana'sGlacierNationalParkthenumberofglaciershasdeclinedtofewerthan30frommorethan150in1910.Muchofthismeltingicecontributestosea-levelrise.Globalsealevelsarerising0.13inches(3.2millimeters)ayear,andtheriseisoccurringatafasterrateinrecentyears.Risingtemperaturesareaffectingwildlifeandtheirhabitats.VanishingicehaschallengedspeciessuchastheAdéliepenguininAntarctica,wheresomepopulationsonthewesternpeninsulahavecollapsedby90percentormore.Astemperatureschange,manyspeciesareonthemove.Somebutterflies,foxes,andalpineplantshavemigratedfarthernorthortohigher,coolerareas.Precipitation(rainandsnowfall)hasincreasedacrosstheglobe,onaverage.Yetsomeregionsareexperiencingmoreseveredrought,increasingtheriskofwildfires,lostcrops,anddrinkingwatershortages.Somespecies—includingmosquitoes,ticks,jellyfish,andcroppests—arethriving.Boomingpopulationsofbarkbeetlesthatfeedonspruceandpinetrees,forexample,havedevastatedmillionsofforestedacresintheU.S.Pleaseberespectfulofcopyright.Unauthorizeduseisprohibited.Pleaseberespectfulofcopyright.Unauthorizeduseisprohibited.Pleaseberespectfulofcopyright.Unauthorizeduseisprohibited.Pleaseberespectfulofcopyright.Unauthorizeduseisprohibited.Pleaseberespectfulofcopyright.Unauthorizeduseisprohibited.Pleaseberespectfulofcopyright.Unauthorizeduseisprohibited.Pleaseberespectfulofcopyright.Unauthorizeduseisprohibited.Pleaseberespectfulofcopyright.Unauthorizeduseisprohibited.Pleaseberespectfulofcopyright.Unauthorizeduseisprohibited.Pleaseberespectfulofcopyright.Unauthorizeduseisprohibited.Pleaseberespectfulofcopyright.Unauthorizeduseisprohibited.1/111/11
AnicebergmeltsinthewatersoffAntarctica.Climatechangehasacceleratedtherateoficelossacrossthecontinent.
AnicebergmeltsinthewatersoffAntarctica.Climatechangehasacceleratedtherateoficelossacrossthecontinent.
PhotographbyPaulNicklen,NatGeoImageCollectionOthereffectscouldtakeplacelaterthiscentury,ifwarmingcontinues.Theseinclude:Sealevelsareexpectedtorisebetween10and32inches(26and82centimeters)orhigherbytheendofthecentury.Hurricanesandotherstormsarelikelytobecomestronger.Floodsanddroughtswillbecomemorecommon.LargepartsoftheU.S.,forexample,faceahigherriskofdecades-long"megadroughts"by2100.Lessfreshwaterwillbeavailable,sinceglaciersstoreaboutthree-quartersoftheworld'sfreshwater.Somediseaseswillspread,suchasmosquito-bornemalaria(andthe2016resurgenceoftheZikavirus).Ecosystemswillcontinuetochange:Somespecieswillmovefarthernorthorbecomemoresuccessful;others,suchaspolarbears,won’tbeabletoadaptandcouldbecomeextinct.Readnext:IsGlobalWarmingReal?4:09ClimateChange101withBillNyeClimateChangeisarealandseriousissue.InthisvideoBillNye,theScienceGuy,explainswhatcausesclimatechange,howitaffectsourplanet,whyweneedtoactpromptlytomitigateitseffects,andhoweachofuscancontributetoasolution.ShareTweetEmailReadThisNextMagazineWelcometoEarthTrackingthegreatSerengetiwildebeestmigrationAmappingprojectletsyoufollowwildebeestsfittedwithGPScollarsastheysearchforfoodandwaterinoneofthelastlarge-mammalmigrationsonEarth.HowBerlin’sinfamousclubsceneisweatheringthepandemicHistory&CultureCoronavirusCoverageHowBerlin’sinfamousclubsceneisweatheringthepandemicNearlytwoyearsintoCOVID-19,thecity’srecentlyreopenednightspotstrytodancetheirwaytoahealthyClubKultur.Whyyoushouldn’tpanicovertheOmicronvariantScienceCoronavirusCoverageWhyyoushouldn’tpanicovertheOmicronvariantThenewvariantofconcernhasalargenumberofmutationsandisspreadingfast.Butexpertssaytherearemanyunknowns,andthatvaccinesandmasksarestillthebestavailableprotections.HowfallfoliagewasdisruptedbyclimatechangeEnvironmentHowfallfoliagewasdisruptedbyclimatechangeThroughouttheeasternU.S.,fallcolorsarrivedbehindschedule,whichscientistssayisasignofthingstocome.GoFurtherAnimalsHowwildanimalseatenatthefirstThanksgivingarefaringtodayAnimalsHowwildanimalseatenatthefirstThanksgivingarefaringtodayInsecticidescancauselastingharmforgenerationsofbeesAnimalsInsecticidescancauselastingharmforgenerationsofbeesAstasteschange,Vietnam’sbearbileindustryisfadingAnimalsWildlifeWatchAstasteschange,Vietnam’sbearbileindustryisfadingSeethemicroscopicworldofplanktoninstunningdetailAnimalsSeethemicroscopicworldofplanktoninstunningdetailPhotoArkofat-riskspeciesadds12,000thanimalAnimalsPhotoArkPhotoArkofat-riskspeciesadds12,000thanimalAdeadlydiseaseiswipingoutCaribbeancoralAnimalsAdeadlydiseaseiswipingoutCaribbeancoralEnvironmentInsideaUkrainianwarzone,anotherfightrages—forcleanairEnvironmentInsideaUkrainianwarzone,anotherfightrages—forcleanairHowfallfoliagewasdisruptedbyclimatechangeEnvironmentHowfallfoliagewasdisruptedbyclimatechangeEmpoweringpeopletoprotecttheOkavangoBasin,VideoStoryPaidContentEmpoweringpeopletoprotecttheOkavangoBasinThesurprisingancienthistoryofthehedgeappleEnvironmentThesurprisingancienthistoryofthehedgeappleWhytheseWestAfricanarchitectsarechoosingmudoverconcreteEnvironmentPlanetPossibleWhytheseWestAfricanarchitectsarechoosingmudoverconcreteEurope'sbutterfliesarevanishingassmallfarmsdisappearEnvironmentPlanetPossibleEurope'sbutterfliesarevanishingassmallfarmsdisappearHistory&CultureHowanancientrevoltsparkedtheFestivalofLightsHistory&CultureHowanancientrevoltsparkedtheFestivalofLightsArarelookinsidetheSmithsonian’ssecretstoreroomsHistory&CultureArarelookinsidetheSmithsonian’ssecretstoreroomsTheOrientExpressembodiedtheromanceoftherailwaysHistoryMagazineTheOrientExpressembodiedtheromanceoftherailwaysBarbadoswillfinallycuttiestotheBritishmonarchyHistory&CultureBarbadoswillfinallycuttiestotheBritishmonarchyHowtheCommonwealtharosefromacrumblingBritishEmpireHistory&CultureHowtheCommonwealtharosefromacrumblingBritishEmpireHowthetraditionalThanksgivingfeasthasevolvedovercenturiesHistory&CultureHowthetraditionalThanksgivingfeasthasevolvedovercenturiesScienceU.S.confirmsfirstcaseofOmicronvariantinCaliforniaScienceCoronavirusCoverageU.S.confirmsfirstcaseofOmicronvariantinCaliforniaAncientfootprintshintathumanrelativewithstrangewalkScienceAncientfootprintshintathumanrelativewithstrangewalkThisbizarrearmoreddinosaurhadauniquelybladedtailweaponScienceThisbizarrearmoreddinosaurhadauniquelybladedtailweaponWhyanHIV-preventiondrugfailstoreachat-riskwomenScienceWhyanHIV-preventiondrugfailstoreachat-riskwomenAlienhuntershavespent60yearsstudyingDrakeEquationScienceAlienhuntershavespent60yearsstudyingDrakeEquationHowvolcaniceruptionshelpnourishtheworldMagazineWelcometoEarthHowvolcaniceruptionshelpnourishtheworldTravelWhydoesItalyhavea‘Trans-Siberian’railway?TravelWhydoesItalyhavea‘Trans-Siberian’railway?Here’sthebestplacetoseenorthernlightsintheU.S.TravelBestoftheWorldHere’sthebestplacetoseenorthernlightsintheU.S.Thesearethebestcompactcamerasfortravelersin2022TravelThesearethebestcompactcamerasfortravelersin2022Fortravelerswithdisabilities,videogamesarewindowstotheworldTravelFortravelerswithdisabilities,videogamesarewindowstotheworldScotland’sStorylands:ExplorethelivinglandscapesofBadenochPaidContentScotland’sStorylands:ExplorethelivinglandscapesofBadenochTheBelgiancitywheretheBigBangtheorywasbornTravelTheBelgiancitywheretheBigBangtheorywasbornSubscriberExclusiveContentpreviousMagazineWhyarepeoplesodangobsessedwithMars?ReadMagazineHowvirusesshapeourworldReadAnimalsTheeraofgreyhoundracingintheU.S.iscomingtoanendReadMagazineSeehowpeoplehaveimaginedlifeonMarsthroughhistoryReadMagazineSeehowNASA’snewMarsroverwillexploretheredplanetExploreMagazineWhyarepeoplesodangobsessedwithMars?ReadMagazineHowvirusesshapeourworldReadAnimalsTheeraofgreyhoundracingintheU.S.iscomingtoanendReadMagazineSeehowpeoplehaveimaginedlifeonMarsthroughhistoryReadMagazineSeehowNASA’snewMarsroverwillexploretheredplanetExploreMagazineWhyarepeoplesodangobsessedwithMars?ReadMagazineHowvirusesshapeourworldReadAnimalsTheeraofgreyhoundracingintheU.S.iscomingtoanendReadMagazineSeehowpeoplehaveimaginedlifeonMarsthroughhistoryReadMagazineSeehowNASA’snewMarsroverwillexploretheredplanetExplorenextSeeMoreLegalTermsofUsePrivacyPolicyYourCaliforniaPrivacyRightsChildren'sOnlinePrivacyPolicyInterest-BasedAdsAboutNielsenMeasurementDoNotSellMyInfoOurSitesNatGeoHomeAttendaLiveEventBookaTripBuyMapsInspireYourKidsShopNatGeoVisittheD.C.MuseumWatchTVLearnAboutOurImpactSupportourMissionNatGeoPartnersMastheadPressRoomAdvertiseWithUsJoinUsSubscribeCustomerServiceRenewSubscriptionManageYourSubscriptionWorkatNatGeoSignupforOurNewslettersContributetoProtectthePlanetPitchaStoryFollowusNationalGeographicFacebookNationalGeographicTwitterNationalGeographicInstagramUnitedStates(Change)Copyright©1996-2015NationalGeographicSocietyCopyright©2015-2021NationalGeographicPartners,LLC.Allrightsreserved
