Climate Report Warns Seven Planetary Vital Signs at Record Extremes as El Niño Intensifies
A recent study published in BioScience indicates that out of 16 critical planetary indicators, seven have reached alarming extremes. The research, spearheaded by Bill Ripple from Oregon State University, highlights that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are now 50% above those seen before the industrial era, largely due to fossil fuel consumption. Additionally, both the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are experiencing unprecedented reductions, while ocean temperatures have reached their highest levels. The rate of warming has surged from 0.05°C per decade between 1880 and 1970 to 0.36°C since 2010. A potent El Niño could further elevate global temperatures, intensifying heat and drought conditions that endanger coral reefs and tropical forests. The Amazon is particularly vulnerable to drought and deforestation, facing possible tipping points. Despite advancements in carbon-free energy, greenhouse gas emissions are at an all-time high.
Key facts
- Seven of 16 planetary vital signs tracked by researchers have never been in a more extreme state.
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide is 50 percent higher than preindustrial levels due to burning fossil fuels.
- Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have shrunk to record lows, while ocean heat has soared to record highs.
- Warming has quickened from about 0.05 degrees Celsius per decade from 1880 through 1970 to 0.36 degrees Celsius per decade since 2010.
- The global average temperature including land is not at a record extreme but may change by the end of the year as El Niño strengthens.
- If the planet warms beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius, most of the world's coral will be unlikely to survive.
- The Amazon is among ecosystems at risk of crossing a tipping point toward savanna, though such a shift is highly unlikely to be imminent.
- Annual greenhouse gas emissions are at record highs despite growth in carbon-free energy.
Entities
Artists
- Bill Ripple
Institutions
- Oregon State University
- BioScience
Locations
- Greenland
- Antarctica
- Amazon
- Brazil