27 Feedback Loops, or Global Warming Accelerators, Add Urgency to Respond to Climate Crisis: Study

credit: Tom's of Maine Official Facebook Page

Greenhouse gas emissions are already causing major changes to the Earth's climate system, and it's only a matter of time before those changes result in more extreme weather and temperatures, according to a new study.

Researchers from around the world say they've identified 27 "apparent climate feedback loops" that are driving climate change, the Guardian reports.

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the most extensive list available of climate feedback loops, and not all of them are fully considered in climate models," says Christopher Wolf of Oregon State University, lead author of the study in the journal One Earth.

For example, warming in the Arctic is causing melting sea ice, which in turn is causing more warming because sea water absorbs rather than reflects solar radiation, reports the Press Trust of India.

"We need a rapid transition toward integrated Earth system science because the climate can only be fully understood by considering the functioning and state of all Earth systems together," says Wolf.

The researchers say it's too late to prevent the worst effects of climate change, but "if we take meaningful steps soon while prioritizing human basic needs and social justice, it could still be possible to limit the harm."

(Here's how to avoid the worst of climate change.) Read the Entire Article

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