There is growing evidence that our planet is melting. One of the most striking is very close in time: 2014 was the warmest year since the records began in 1880 , although it was not much different from those that preceded it, yes, all belonging to the 21st century. Who is guilty?
The culprit, for the most part, is man, as was pointed out in the latest IPCC (International Panel of Climate Change) report. Although throughout history the natural climatic evolution of the planet has suffered ups and downs, humans have been the protagonists of the global warming of the last century ; proof of this is the emission of gases that retain heat to enhance the long-awaited modern life.
This exorbitant increase in the temperature of the Earth, which last year was 0.69 degrees higher than the average of the 20th century, means that the glaciers are gradually liquefying, with the consequent rise in sea level , phenomena that in a future can have devastating consequences.
Sea ice at this point plays an important role, as it is a fundamental component of the climate system. Well, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center of the United States, in 2014 the minimum daily annual extent of sea ice in the Arctic, observed on September 17, covered 5.02 million square kilometers , the sixth smallest ever recorded.
The atmosphere also suffers
The state and behavior of the atmosphere are also affected by human action and the current model of society. The clearing of forests, without going any further, eliminates an important source of humidity and absorption of carbon dioxide.
According to experts, the increase of this gas in the atmosphere further increases the greenhouse effect, not to mention the destruction of ecosystems by eliminating humid climates. Other growing problems, such as pollution and overpopulation, are also damaging the atmosphere and the planet we live on without turning back .
