The Rate of Global Climate Change

Question 1

Increased Global Temperatures

Answer 1

The unprecedented rise in CO2 levels since 1750 has increased the average global temperature by 1.1C. Even if all anthropogenic CO2 emissions were stopped today, we are still projected to hit 1.5C warming because CO2 stays in the atmosphere for up to 100 years

Question 2

Global Ice Melt

Answer 2

• Ice sheets are glaciers that exceed 50 000km^2 in size, and only two exist; the Antarctic ice sheet and the Greenland ice sheet.
• In the last 20 years the Greenland ice sheet has been melting at a rate five times faster than ever before. The Greenland ice sheet holds enough water to raise sea levels by up to 7.2m
• Arctic sea ice is frozen ice floating in the Arctic ocean. Satellite measurements that began in 1979 show Arctic sea ice has declined significantly in all months, and overall it is declining at a rate of 13% per decade
• Arctic sea ice, ice sheets and glaciers play an important part in maintaining the heat budget by reflecting insolation