25 Alarming
Global Warming Statistics
Posted by
Josef, Updated on March 25, 2014
Global
warming is among the most alarming environmental issues that the world faces
today. This phenomenon does not simply involve the significant rise in the
earth’s temperature but a lot more. The adverse effects of global warming have
become more and more apparent since the dawn of the 20th century, with more
hurricanes and tropical storms causing massive destruction in different areas
around the world, more animal species losing their habitats and becoming
extinct, and more people dying because of too much heat. Here are 25 alarming
global warming statistics.
25
By the end
of the century, around 150,000 people will have died of heat related causes.
24
In the last
three decades, the United States has had an average of 80% consumption of
fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil; all of which contribute to the emission
of greenhouse gases.
23
Each year of
the 21st century ranks amongst 14 hottest years since 1880.
22
According to
studies, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by as
much as 34% since the 1700 industrial revolution.
21
Scientists
believe that by the end of the century, the temperature of the earth will
become much higher than its temperature now. By 2100, the average global
temperature will be around 5.8 degrees hotter if humans continue their current
CO2 output.
20
Humans are
the major contributors of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Based on studies,
human activities are responsible for about 37 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide
every year.
19
The 20th
century marks the highest carbon dioxide levels in the history of the planet.
Studies show that the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today is
higher than it was 650,000 years ago.
18
Global
warming is a result of excessive amount of carbon dioxide in the earth’s
atmosphere. Based on studies, the rate at which humans dump carbon dioxide into
the environment is 1000 tons per second.
17
Global
warming does not simply cause a significant increase in the temperature of the
earth but also leads to the destruction of habitats and ecosystems. This
explains why over a million species have already become extinct.
16
According to
scientists, if global warming persists, around 100 million around the world
will live with three feet of sea level rise. This threat especially applies to
people living in coastal cities.
15
Of the 150
glaciers featured in the Montana Glacier National Park in 1910, only 25 were
able to survive. This is just one of the few glacier parks in the world that
suffers because of the continued increase in the earth’s near-surface
temperature.
14
A report
from the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment that was compiled from 2000 to 2004
revealed that the average temperature in Russia, Western Canada and Alaska have
all increased by twice the global average.
13
A report
from the IPCC in 2007 revealed that by the time we reach the end of this
century, sea levels would have already risen by 7 to 23 inches because of global
warming.
12
It is ironic
that despite the United States only making up 5% of the total population of the
world, it has been ranked no. 1 among giant countries considered to be global
warming polluters. The US contributes 25% of total emissions.
11
Humans are
not the only ones who suffer from global warming. Even plant and animal species
do. It is projected that by the time we reach 2050, around 15 to 37% of all the
existing plant and animal species today would cease to exist.
10
Because of
the continued increase of the near-surface temperature of the earth, polar
glaciers have also continued to melt, causing a significant rise in our sea
level. Over the past 100 years, the sea level is said to have increased by 10
to 20 centimeters.
9
A study
conducted by the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment revealed that since ancient
times, there have been around 400,000 square miles of the Arctic Sea that have
already melted because of the increasing temperature of the earth. This area is
around half the state of Texas.
8
According to
studies, the snow cover and ice extent in the world today have considerably
decreased over the past decades because of global warming. If this phenomenon
continues, there will be no glaciers left in the Glacier National Park sixteen
years from now.
7
Figures from
the National Climactic Data Centre show that in 2005, around $100 billion worth
of properties were damaged by hurricanes in the United States because of global
warming. These hurricanes and other tropical storms are due to the increase of
carbon dioxide emissions that cause the temperature of the earth to heat up.
6
The
atmospheric carbon dioxide level of the earth today has significantly increased
since the 18th century. The amount of carbon dioxide in 1800 was 31% less than
the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today, which means that it has
increased from 280 parts per million to 367 per million. According to
scientists, this level could be as high as 970 parts per million nine decades
from now.
5
Based on a
study conducted by MIT, there has been a 100% increase in both the duration and
intensity of natural calamities occurring on earth since the 1970’s,
particularly tropical storms and hurricanes. This is also said to be a result
of the increased amount of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere.
4
The increase
in the temperature of the world has significantly increased over the past three
decades, and the increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the earth’s
atmosphere is said to be one of the contributing factors. The temperature of
the world now increases at a rate of three times faster than the rate 100 years
ago.
3
Based on the
records of NASA, the annual temperature of the United States and the world
today is now around 1.0 F degrees warmer compared to the annual temperature
recorded in 1900. This is a pretty significant increase.
2
On the list
of the 25 hottest years in the history of the Earth according to NASA, the last
nine years are all included. This means that compared to the temperature of the
world before, the world today is much hotter.
1
According to
statistics, we have had twice in the last decade the hottest temperatures ever
recorded in the history of the planet. The hottest temperature on record used
to be in 1998, but the record was broken in 2005. Scientists believe it was not
mere coincidence but a result of global warming.
Excerpts
from Josef’s List25.com.
Grateful
thanks to Josef and List25.com
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